Tamiya rubber tracks...

[BlackSheep214]

Why do Tamiya armor kit use rubber tracks? Anyhow.... Do they need to be primed prior to painting? I really don’t want to get AM tracks since this armor kit will be my last of 2022.

My plan was to shoot a coat of black primer, then shoot Humbrol Track color as top coat and weather it up a bit.

[Stikpusher]

It all depends upon the Tamiya kit. Some are the old vinyl/rubber melt the pins track. Some are the new soft gluable single piece tracks, and some are link and length tracks. The gluable tracks tend to break down under hot paints and primers. The old vinyl tracks are pretty much impervious to anything.

[BlackSheep214]

The kit is fairly new - silver rubber tracks. Yeah you have to melt the tabs underneath.

I already assembled the track strips and will shoot a coat of grey or flat black for primer then follow with a coat of track brown.

[Stikpusher]

Which kit is it? Tamiya still sells new production kits with single length heat melted pin close tracks such as their Panzer II and M41

[BlackSheep214]

I went ahead and assembled the tracks with gorilla glue then melt the tabs and let cool. A couple hours later, I shot a coat of Humbrol Track Brown and left to dry overnight. This afternoon I added the track to the tank kit with success. Not breakage or paint coming off the tracks.

Decals are on and will post pics after a coat of flat clear is applied and dried.