I’m looking for a good method of tagging and bagging parts before construction begins. The kit I’m about to start states there are 147 parts that will be used, some quite small with no way of marking them once they are off the sprue.
My idea is to remove them from the sprue and do any cleanup that is necessary so they are ready to go when I reach that assembly point.
Also some of the parts will need to be painted before assembly so that info needs to follow the part also.
I’ve never tagged and bagged but I have seen it mentioned on more than one occasion. So I am open to any methods.
I’m typically only cutting a few parts off the sprue at any time and never two ‘near identical’ parts. I figure they’re safer on the sprue plus cleaning them up immediately after removal means less missing burrs. If you must pull parts off ahead of time, may I suggest an organizer box with many compartments or smaller boxes.
As I build, loose parts go into one plastic bag. Spare parts go into a different plastic bag. At some point in the construction process, I want all the runners gone. I take a sheet of cardboard, add tape strips sticky side up, clean up small parts, drop them onto the tape, and number them. I may also leave clusters of small parts on sections of tree.
The system above works well for short and medium duration builds. The tape will eventually let go so do not use this system for very long term storage.
Small parts in multiples I keep on a short piece of sprue with the number still attached, like grab handles or lifting hooks. If possible I will write part numbers in pencil on the pieces. I do each step in its own bag unless the step is small enough to roll into the next step without confusion, like all the suspension parts for one side. If the parts are simply too small or fragile to remove I’ll put them in a separate container and a note in the appropriate baggie stating to look in the other container.
Ditto to what loncray writes.
Indy link tracks I will sit down and clean up all of them and store them in small containers or small plastic bags until they get assembled.
Everything else stays on the sprues except the really big parts where I remove the small sprue to prevent it from breaking off from the part and causing scars.
Almost forgot; old medication bottles are great for holding track bits before assembly. I’ve also got a few for things like clear bottles, smoke grenades and strips of ammunition that get used on various kits.
What is the benefit claimed by those using this method?
I will work on readily identifiable sub-assemblies or parts in parallel but not a wholesale defoliating of sprue trees.
On the workbench shallow, wide boxes, like those used for chocolate candies, are better to keep parts visible with less damage risk from piling on top of each other, getting entangled, or pawing through them.
Another reason I detach out of the SbS sequence is if a whole bunch of parts need the same custom colour painted, easier to do them all in one go. And obviously individual track links need somewhere to stay for a night or two while they’re being detached/prepped.
But otherwise I leave them on the tree until called – I’d go crazy if I had to detach/clean up several hundred parts all at once, sheer masochism.
Yup. Kills the joy very efficiently …
Cleaning track parts is repetitive so the brain can
disconnect and think about other stuff,
“random” small parts requires focus.
There seems to be two frames of mind here, 1: Don’t, 2:Limit the number of parts.
However I did notice most replies came from tank fans. And thinking back I believe most of the things I read about tag and bag were also from tank fans. Since I haven’t done a tank in over 30 years I think #2 would work for me, mostly aircraft and cars.
I do remember that the tracks usually had many pieces involved so to me at least that makes sense.
