Painting during construction

[aurfalien]

Hello most esteemed fellows,

How do you approach painting the body, during or after construction?

I was pondering painting certain parts of the body during construction tasks that would normally be hard to mask off later.

And then doing the body once construction is over and masking stuff like windows, headlights, etc... is done.

Or do you simply paint the entire body before construction and touch up later on?

Thanks in advance.

Edited December 17, 2014 by aurfalien

[Snake45]

Every build and every paint job is a law unto itself. With experience, you'll be able to know the painting sequence for optimal results with minimal effort.

[aurfalien]

Thanks Yoda.

[Jantrix]

It depends. If you are doing mods that require copious test fittings during the build then do it last. If it's is a fairly straight forward build then do it when it's convenient.

[Psychographic]

Paint the entire body first. Never assemble, then paint.

Never say never. In order to build this without having a seam down the middle where the two halves of the body meet, it had to be assembled then painted.

[aurfalien]

Cool deal, I'll do a test assembly of the chassis to frame w/o glue and see about seams. Its a Fuji Ferrari 330P4 which so far, looks pretty tight in terms of parts precision.

[southpier]

I'm of the "build then take apart & paint" and it is always a chess game which subassemblies get to stay and which to remove at the finishing stage. I just watched a youtube military modeler and he put everything together including cab glass before he started painting.

it really is a model x model assessment. and the type/ style of build you're doing.

I still contend 95% of the "weathered" vehicles being produced are cover-ups for good models gone awry in final assembly.

[Snake45]

I still contend 95% of the "weathered" vehicles being produced are cover-ups for good models gone awry in final assembly.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I like that!

[unclescott58]

99% of the kits I build I paint the body before building. I will do some sub-assembly before painting. Things like engine blocks, heads, etc.

Scott

[Tom Geiger]

I still contend 95% of the "weathered" vehicles being produced are cover-ups for good models gone awry in final assembly.

And I built the other 5%

[rivan.avb]

Hi guys, i wanna ask something, what you gonna do first, paint the window side frame on the body before clear coat or clear coat first and then masking the body to paint window side frame?? Thank you

[Belugawrx]

I always paint the body after I get a rolling chassis, I KNOW is going to fit under everything.

Including interior, glass,tires and wheels of choice etc.,

There is nothing more aggravating to me than getting to final, and having to pull out the dremel on a polished body!

Even without body mods I test fit, test fit, test fit.

As far as window trim,...after paint and polish,... I will use a sharpie for black or BMF