Hi Guys,

Im getting into 1/35 & 1/48 AFV models and was wondering what do you use to hold the model as to not handle it too often and have the paint strip when pinwashing/detail painting/chipping etc?
It was easy with 1/72 as i just made custom LEGO holders and the models were light enough to hold on but with such large models its not going to work.
Tried blue-tacking a Tamiya lid to the underside but that didnt hold for long.

Tanks with removable turrets are easy, just take off the turret.

Other vehicles are tricky.
I would do the work in stages so that there is always something dry to hold on to. The last finishing touches can be done with some care with the model standing on a raised surface (a couple of kit boxes on top of the work bench).

/ Robin

Try good old masking tape on the underside of the hull, sticking onto a bit of wood to act as a handle/stand. Years ago I cut some scraps of 1x2" wood into short pieces that I screwed to 6" strips of 1x2 so the short piece was standing upright in the middle of the strip. Then I put masking tape doubled over with the sticky side out and press the model (or its separate parts) on the tape for painting. You can cut different scraps of wood to fit different purposes (narrow ones to fit inside turrets, for example) and by replacing the masking tape it's ready for the next build...

I was thinking about getting one of the work holders like this:

http://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/working-tools/609-universal-work-holder-small.html

and drilling 4 small holes in the tanks underside and then expand the jaws to secure it in place

not being a "tanker", yet never missing the opportunity to express an opinion of something of which I know nothing . . .

if you are going to ventilate the hull of your model, could you use a jewelers pick-up tool?

https://www.amazon.com/SE-860PT-Pick-Up-Tool-Prongs/dp/B000RB3KZ4/ref=pd_cp_201_1?pd_rd_w=lpAxh&pf_rd_p=ef4dc990-a9ca-4945-ae0b-f8d549198ed6&pf_rd_r=Z4693BKZWBSR5TZYN3Y4&pd_rd_r=b3807362-cc29-447a-902f-03d03fb36fbd&pd_rd_wg=nrOly&pd_rd_i=B000RB3KZ4&psc=1&refRID=Z4693BKZWBSR5TZYN3Y4

the holes could be small and covered by some detailed wash-out plugs or panel at final construction.

I understand this treads (!) on the controversy of detailing what cannot be seen, but that's how I roll.

Thats pretty much what I was thinking about with the work holder.
Im not sure the jewellers tool will be sturdy enough to hold a metal 1/48 or 1/35 chassis