Engine assembly question

[SamBred]

so I was wondering how you guys assemble and paint your engines. Is it easier to paint all of it first then assemble or assemble the whole engine and paint it. (Not all one color, but multiple colors) 

or 

maybe you guys and tell me the best ways to do the engine. When to paint, when to glue, what kinda glue, when to assemble.

[Harry P.]

First assemble any parts that will be the same color (engine block halves and cylinder heads, for example). Then paint the assembly as a unit. Any parts that will be different colors, paint them first, then once all your parts are painted, assembly is the last step.

As for what type of glue, I prefer liquid cement. Others will tell you otherwise because it's a personal preference. There really is no one "right" answer.

[Ramfins59]

Ditto to what Harry said.  If the oil pan is not a separate piece be sure to sand the seams where the parts joined after the liquid glue has fully dried along with any seams on the engine block/transmission assembly.  If there are any "gaps" along the seams after sanding, then fill them with some squadron putty or some CA glue and then resand it all smooth before painting.

[StevenGuthmiller]

Harry & Richard pretty much said it all.

 

Steve

[espo]

For myself I prefer to paint and then assemble the engine. Some of this has to do with the different finishes on different parts of the engine. I try to get a flat finish on the block and any other cast iron parts. On a 1:1 these parts usually turn out flat because of the texture of the part. An oil pan or valve covers would come out some what shiner like a semi-gloss unless it is a custom or presenting something that had been "built". If you're doing a stock type build there are many different types of finishes under the hood , if its more of a custom type build the surfaces tend to by glossier. It's all up to how you want it to look.   

[MrObsessive]

To expand upon what Rich said, if I'm gluing two engine block halves together and that includes the oil pan and trans, and there's a seam, what I like to do is brush a coat or two of Future (Pledge with Future Shine) on the oil pan and trans before I paint and let the Future fully dry.

At least whenever I'm building something, despite the fact that I've blended everything smooth and I've covered those areas with either putty or CA glue, it never seemed to fail that down the road that seam line is staring back at you and saying "Hi!"  

That drives me CRAZY!

Future will negate the crazing/ghosting effect of paint (even the so-called "cool" hobby enamels). 

[SamBred]

Another thing I was wondering about was...how to repair chrome pieces when I take them off the parts tree...seems to tear off the chrome.

[espo]

Very small  bits of foil can sometimes work. Another option would be to completely redo the part in foil or a chrome spray of some sort.

[BigTallDad]

Perhaps more care when removing the chrome parts...are you just twisting them off?

I might be obsessive, but I'll cut the sprue, then use straight (not curved) toe nail clippers to get close to the part, then sand until the tab is completely removed.

[Harry P.]

Another thing I was wondering about was...how to repair chrome pieces when I take them off the parts tree...seems to tear off the chrome.

Sounds like you're twisting the chrome parts off the sprue. Never do that. Always use sprue cutters to cut the part away. That will generally leave a little "nub" where the part was attached, which needs to be removed carefully with a sharp X-acto knife. Be careful to just remove the nub; try not to remove any more chrome on either side of the nub. Any "white spots" can be touched up with a small brush and a tiny dab of Testors Silver bottle paint.

[Art Anderson]

First assemble any parts that will be the same color (engine block halves and cylinder heads, for example). Then paint the assembly as a unit. Any parts that will be different colors, paint them first, then once all your parts are painted, assembly is the last step.

As for what type of glue, I prefer liquid cement. Others will tell you otherwise because it's a personal preference. There really is no one "right" answer.

AMEN!