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evening dakka,

just a quick poll to see how often people paint the interiors of their transports (rhinos, etc). I did the interiors for my salamanders rhinos, but since I never open the hatches during play no one sees all that effort. it's making me question the value of all that extra work. I'll be building a few rhinos for my chaos army later this year and I'm debating if it's worth doing the interiors again or just gluing the hatches shut.

what do you think?

'During play" is not a component in the equation you need to worry about. If you're going to keep the ability to open the hatch, paint the interior. If you don't want to open the hatch, glue it and don't paint the interior. That's all there is to it. It's that easy. At least from a modeling perspective. If you want to paint the interior for a personal peace of mind, no matter if anyone will see it, fine. But if you're going to have the hatch open, might as well paint the damn thing.

So what you want really is the question. Do you keep your hatch openable or glue it shut? what's the purpose of this question alltogether? It's personal preference, nothing else. There's no actual play value, no actual modeling value, beyond personal preference. Which again points to the fact, you want to paint the interior, you do, you don't want to, you don't.

I realize this is a question of personal preference and falls squarely into the "they're your models, do what you want" dakka meme. I'm just curious as to what other folks do

Do a search then, rather than asking for opinions.

first off, this is a social forum. P&M, especially, is all about asking for opinions, feedback and critique. I don't understand why this post offends you so.

second, many people don't bother posting photos of their work here, but that doesn't mean they aren't active painters/don't have opinions.

I'm sorry this post bothers you so much, but kindly ignore it rather then telling me not to ask questions

I just airbrush the inside with a bone like colour or sand colour and the grid like panels I paint black.. When I pop the doors open the ramp will be different enough to make the model pop a bit more.

I prime them black and then drybrush some silver on top.

1) Paint interior
2) Don't paint interior

A) Show interior
B) Don't show interior

Only ones that make sense are 1A and 2B. You have two choices. What I don't get is how anyone else's opinion is going to alter what you want to do with your own model. If you don't want to paint the interior, you won't paint it. If you do wan't to paint the interior, you'll paint it. Asking a question on who paints and who doesn't is futile, in the sense that those who do, want to, those who don't, don't want to. There's no discussion as to why to paint/not paint the interior, as the only prerequisite to do so is if you want to show it or not. Having your model with, or without, a painted interior has no weight on the actual game. So you're asking from a modeling aspect, in which case, again, it's purely those that wan't to paint it..... So what's the point? To get a percentage measurement of who do, and who don't? To convince yourself to do, or not to?

 Johnno wrote:
1) Paint interior
2) Don't paint interior

A) Show interior
B) Don't show interior

Only ones that make sense are 1A and 2B. You have two choices. What I don't get is how anyone else's opinion is going to alter what you want to do with your own model. If you don't want to paint the interior, you won't paint it. If you do wan't to paint the interior, you'll paint it. Asking a question on who paints and who doesn't is futile, in the sense that those who do, want to, those who don't, don't want to. There's no discussion as to why to paint/not paint the interior, as the only prerequisite to do so is if you want to show it or not. Having your model with, or without, a painted interior has no weight on the actual game. So you're asking from a modeling aspect, in which case, again, it's purely those that wan't to paint it..... So what's the point? To get a percentage measurement of who do, and who don't? To convince yourself to do, or not to?

Buddy, what part of someone being curious about what other fellow painters do when they paint do you not understand? This is a forum where people discuss what they do with modeling/painting so your rude responses and long winded, useless explanations are not welcomed. Varl clearly stated that he has painted the interior of a Rhino (which he did very well, mind you) and was having an internal debated on whether to do it again. Out of curiosity, he asked other fellow painters what they did in order to start a conversation about the subject, thus fulfilling the point of a forum. Whatever point you are trying to make is moot.

To answer the question; yes, I have painted the interior of one, but it was for a competition model. If it is solely for gaming, I probably wouldn't do it just because of the hassle, but the finished result can make it worth it. I definitely think it says a lot about the dedication of a painter if they take the time to do it.

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:
Varl clearly stated that he has painted the interior of a Rhino (which he did very well, mind you) and was having an internal debated on whether to do it again. Out of curiosity, he asked other fellow painters what they did in order to start a conversation about the subject, thus fulfilling the point of a forum. Whatever point you are trying to make is moot.

You're right, I'm sorry.

I'll answer the OP.


I've done two rhinos. On one I painted the interior, as I left the hatch unglued so you could open it to view the interior. On the second I just wanted to get a quick tabletop rhino ready for play, so I glued the hatches and didn't paint the interior.

My land raider is pretty basic (black with drybrush)

I have one predator not painted, and my vindicator isn't painted.

The other predator and the rhinos will all be painted. Each little screen has paint on it.

It is also fully magnetized so its easy to see in it.

I don't and never plan to

Johnno, relax man.

i don't bother, since i don't feel a need to have the back hatch open and thus tend to glue them shut

 Johnno wrote:
Do a search then, rather than asking for opinions.

This really makes me want to post on this forum. The internet simply does not have enough irritable ankle biters, so I am really happy to find a few more on DakkaDakka.

I paint the insides. When they sit inside my display case, I leave the doors open.

Well, I don't have any rhinos but I like to paint the insides of a vehicle just because it makes the kit last longer, and therefor a better deal economically.

I have a Land Raider that I fubar'd the front hatch so badly I just glued it shut. So I decided to glue all the panels. No interior painting on that one!

I have 2 rhinos in process that I'm painting the interiors. I don't know how crazy I'm going to go - they're primed with Plate Mail primer, so they'll probably get a wash, some Smoke on the floors for weathering and some bright colors on the computer panels. I'll see how that looks before I decide if I want more detailing.

Like others, I usually paint the interieur if it can be seen.

Movable hatches, Ramps, open Doors and windows are a good Reason to paint .
I don't spend too much time as enclosed places like vehicle interior is pretty dark and murky without lights. So just a basic cover of paint and a small bit of attention to screens which may act as a weak lightsource. Plus any floor and Ramp needs a worn and dirty look if this vehicle is meant to be one of the battlefield, not a showroom. But thats all I would invest.

The same with buildings. Enclosed space with some windows / open doors? Basic paintjob inside.

I voted sometimes, it generally varies what mood I'm in when i get a rhino. With Land raiders though, they always get painted. They're quite a centerpiece model so i feel they should get the care and attention they deserve.

Also gluing them shut would make the model a bit more structurally sound so less likely to be damaged on the table top.

i have only painted 1 rhino and i did the interior.


- Removed by insaniak. Please see Dakka's Rule #1 -

I paint all my vehicle interiors. Especially on ones that have large removable parts for conversion. I mean you are paying for all that interior detail why not paint it?

My first Rhino I did but since then I glue the back hatch shut and leave the top unglued for weapon swapping. I think I tend to do this with most armies I start; the first model I like to immerse in the style of the army and want to fully explore all the detail of the model.

For my razorback, I purposely built mine so I could swap the turret with the rhino doors so I could make a rhino if I chose to. I like painting the cockpits and stuff, you can really weather them and wash them so it looks used. I had a friend that glued his landraider completely static, sponsons and all, and it is pretty horrible to remember what got blown off and what's left.