Tamiya Rubber Tracks

[Guest]

Advice please, Is it best to prime and paint these rubber tracks on or off the model? My concern being if you paint these off the model, then due to their flexibility will the paint come away when refitting these back onto he model.


Cheers  Alan

[Guest]

Alan, I think it's way too fiddly to try and paint tracks that are on a model. Some people manage it, but I'd end up getting paint on the wheels etc.


So I prime & paint them prior to fitting. On one occasion I've had a bit of cracking - my Academy 1/25 Jagdpanther springs to mind!  >


But in that example, it was easy enough to dab a bit of paint here & there to cover up the missing bits.


You can see that they turned out ok





Of the other rubber band tracks I've used from Tamiya & Dragon, there's never been a problem that I can recall.


Hope this helps


Cheers


Patrick


ps to alleviate any worries, maybe use Vallejo acrylics to paint them. They have plasticiser in their formulations which would make them more resistant to cracking.

[Guest]

I used to fret about this too, as long as there isn't a long period (months) between painting and fitting, you ought to be fine! I found an old plate that I used as an acrylic palette 20 odd years ago recently, I peeled off dome of the paint, and it was as flexible as the day it dried! Plus, once they're fitted, you tend to weather the visible bits more, so I'd go ahead and paint them on the flat.

[Guest]

I always paint my tracks off the vehicle. I use Vallejo acrylic primer, then the colors to simulate slightly rusted tracks. Then they get weathered after they are on the vehicle. I have never had a problem with paint coming off.


One thing to consider though, is the older style vinyl tracks. Those do not like enamel based paints. Takes forever to dry, and after a number of years, they will get brittle and break. Not always, but sometimes. I don't think it is an issue with the newer styrene based tracks that Dragon and Tamiya use, though.

[PaulTRose]

ditto what Brett says ^^^^^


ive always painted off the vehicle then touched up/weathered/muddied up when fitted