Painting before assembling

[Bullitt]

When painting the frame, undercarriage, engine, etc., do you use a brush, airbrush, rattle can? Also, do you paint on the tree, or assemble as much as possible, then paint.

I am currently building the Lindberg, Color Me Gone,'63 A330 Dodge as a street machine (muscle car). I painted the frame and under carriage last night with gloss black as per the instructions (by brush), but man, it seems way too glossy. Would a matte clear work to dull it a bit, or should I leave as is.

Thanks

[afx]

Phil, I recommend you pre assembly as much as possible before painting, provided that all the assembled parts are to be the same color.  Myself I only brush paint small details.  I air brush or spay paint everything else.   Maybe you should strip the chassis and air brush it rather than dull coating it.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Usually, unless it's an IRS, I assemble the whole chassis (sans engine and driveshaft) and paint it black. It may take two or three medium coats to get everything, but it makes things go quicker.

[gtx6970]

Usually, unless it's an IRS, I assemble the whole chassis (sans engine and driveshaft) and paint it black. It may take two or three medium coats to get everything, but it makes things go quicker.

same here.

My builds are for my case alone and i cant see the chassis in the case

[High octane]

Bullitt, I usually spray all my chassis with a "rattle can" and never a glossy color either.

[Bullitt]

It seemed weird in the instructions to use gloss black, but I went ahead anyway.

[unclescott58]

All the others advice, is what I do too.

[Bill J]

I'd say for me, it depends on the kit. I like to have a little contrast on chassis parts like A-arms and rear end housings so I usually paint them with Gunmetal Metalizer. I paint most chassis bottoms with semi-gloss black and add the front/rear end parts later. However,  on some kits with ill fitting parts or difficult assemblies, I assemble that front end before painting the overall chassis. The Polar Lights NASCAR Talladega and Mercury Cyclone kit comes to mind, since I am building one presently. That kit has so many ill-fitting pieces it really makes sense to assemble as much as possible and then paint.

I always assemble engine blocks, front covers and bell housings and paint as a unit. The intake manifolds and heads also, unless they are aluminum then I paint them metalizer aluminum color separately. I mostly use an airbrush to paint everything, although I sometimes use Tamiya rattle cans for bodies, if the color is available. I use a paint brush on very tiny details and some small parts but if I can airbrush them, I do. I don't like the brush mark look and avoid it as much as possible.

The downside of pre painting and then assembling is glue does not work well with painted surfaces and getting glue on painted parts where it can be seen is annoyingly permanent.