"Looking for Vinyl Tank Parts Help" Topic

I'm looking for some advice on vinyl 20mm tank parts such as tracks.

Is there anything special I need to do with them to keep them in good shape for gaming? Paint, don't paint? Any chemicals I need to stay away from? Etc.

OR, are they pretty much like palstic parts in painting and care?

I've never had any, and am wondering if they are worth the trouble?

I absolutely have had "rubber band" tracks from Airfix disintegrate and crumble. The kicker here, so I understand, is that it depends on production batch; some are fine, some are not. I don't know of a method to tell the difference unfortunately. Also had something like this happen to Matchbox models too, in the original packaging (i.e not Revel repops…)

The problem, as I understand it, is that the plasticizer "leeches" out over time, and can lead to partial melting of the suspension components or other plastic areas it comes in contact with. I've seen this first hand, opening an Academy 1/35 M48A5 kit, which has vinyl tires, and finding all of the areas the sprue rested on partially melted.

So while some are perfectly fine and might last for years with no changes, at other times this is not so. YMMV.

Damon.