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how do you guys tend to go about the assembly/painting process for link and length? First time I tried it (Zvezda T-26) I couldn't even paint first before final assembly on the hull because I couldn't get the return rollers to stay in place long enough to get the tracks on the wheels. wasn't terribly pleased with the end result; just painted everything green, topcoated white and chipped it since it was a Winter War camo, then just painted the tracks steel.
second (and most recent) time I did it was with individual length tracks, because they were teeny tiny HobbyBoss pieces (the Toldi I made a few months ago). I just glued them together in one big link, then softened them with warm water and plastic cement, then bent them around the tracks and glued them. I was able to actually prime and paint the running gear + tracks separately, but airbrushing the wheels -> brush-painting the tracks -> brush-painting the tires (? not sure of the correct term) was an enormous pain in the ass. wasn't super pleased with this result either, but it was an improvement, but like I said an enormous pain in the balls.
now I have link and length again and I'm wondering how the fuck other people actually do it. this is a small kit, a 1/35 FineMolds Ha Go. unlike the T-26, I think I can get the running gear on the tank, then glue the tracks to it, then remove the whole sub assembly, but the painting process has me scratching my head. I could theoretically just put big gobs of masking tape around the wheels after painting them so I can get the desired effect with the tracks (dark iron with subtle airbrushed spots of hull red for rust, then drybrushing steel on the edge for wear), but just thinking of masking it all off makes me want to rope. there has to be an easier way... right?
