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So I've been working on some Valkyries that I got as a part of a trade, and as I started painting the interior of the passenger compartment a friend asked me why I paint the inside of my transport vehicles. It's not like people will look inside, why not just glue them shut and not worry about painting all the interior detail. I fault my modeling origins in building WW2 Bombers and a little bit of OCD. It did make me wonder how others feel about painting, or not painting, the interior of the vehicles. Do you paint the pilots/gunners? Another thought, while I'm asking probing questions, how much of the model do you build before painting? I build up to certain major components, and paint those before finishing the build. How do you get at those elusive details?

I only paint things that will/could be seen. Which depends on the models in question really.
My drop pod for example has a detailed interior because i wanted the doors to open, My predator tank does not as I didnt feel the need for the hatch to open.
Build upto the point that would stop you getting at something you want to paint.

Typically I've painted the interior. Though in these cases you can see all or part of it. This includes the interior of my Rhino. Not that anyone has tried to open without my saying it's possible. The one exception is my Predator/Rhino. Since it will primarily be used as a Predator, I just glued up the assault hatch and left the interior unpainted. I figure the assault ramp wouldn't be used or available on a Predator, so why have it operable on the model?

On scale aircraft, I always paint the cockpits, but then again they're fully visible as I don't have pilots in them either. I feel that the aircraft I see with painted windshields have a severe lack of realism, so I'll always leave them transparent and paint the interior.

On all the vehicles I've done thus far, it's only the interior bits I've painted prior to assembly. I kept my Thunderwolf mounted Wolf Lord separate from his mount, his left arm separate from his body, and his shield separate from that until it was all painted. I'm about to buy a Land Raider, I'm curious how much will be better to paint before assembly, other than the interior. I've never even seen one before. I also imagine Drop Pods are a hassle to paint and assemble.

i dont, waste of time. it makes you also plan your assembly more carefully, build/paint in stages which i really hate doing these days.

all that wasted time on the interior could be instead put towards making the outside even more awesome with free hand, careful weathering, OSL and countless other details

I don't see how taking the time to get all the details on the inside detracts from the outside. The model is finished when it's finished, short of being a commission (which should have the interior and all minute details done anyway), there's not really a limited time frame in which a model has to be done.

My valkyries all have painted cockpits and clear class.
My IG tanks didn't have an inside to paint.
One predator is not painted and glued shut. The other is fully magnetized and able to be a rhino. Back hatch opens. Interior will be painted, along with my other 4 razorbacks. They are painted, but to very minimal standards. (Black, line highlight, painted control panel, and some color on the benches and floor).
My landraider is black and some drybrushing to hit the edges.

Basically it is enough color to show its painted, but not enough to spend a year on painting. (It has almost been 2 years since I got my marine vehicles and they are not even primed on the outside yet)

If I paint the inside, I'll magnetize the top panel so it can be removed and you can show off the interior. Rhinos allow for this really easily. Land raiders are more difficult. Don't have a flyer so can't say anything about their magnetize-ability

I never paint the interior of my vehicles and it always makes me sad

I simply don't have the time.

 Badger_Bhoy wrote:
I don't see how taking the time to get all the details on the inside detracts from the outside. The model is finished when it's finished, short of being a commission (which should have the interior and all minute details done anyway), there's not really a limited time frame in which a model has to be done.

wife, kids, job, school, tournament deadlines, who knows, time investment is a huge factor for most of the population. there's lots of good reasons to only paint the exterior.

I can see why that would make the overall project take longer, but it's still not a finite time limit. Though there is a point where one just wants to use the model so I can understand someone wanting to skip it.

The Rhinopred I've got, I just didn't feel like it and wanted to get to assembly so it's glued shut. I usually find the time to do it, but definitely get why others would rather skip it.

 Badger_Bhoy wrote:
I can see why that would make the overall project take longer, but it's still not a finite time limit. Though there is a point where one just wants to use the model so I can understand someone wanting to skip it.

The Rhinopred I've got, I just didn't feel like it and wanted to get to assembly so it's glued shut. I usually find the time to do it, but definitely get why others would rather skip it.

Yeah, I could always go back and do it....but I never will. There is always something more interesting to paint