Just got the big box, and I want to paint it! But I don't want to lose the awesome decals and numbers and whatnot on the robots. Do you paint around them? Paint over them? How do you paint around them if you do?

I just paint round them, I use the primer as the base colour scheme so no problem.

I do the same thing. I just make sure my colour scheme includes having the primer colour in the area of the decals.

What some people will do is uses an exacto k nife to cut out the shape of the decal in masking tape, and then use it to more accurately cut around the decal.

You can also order decals online at the Dust Models site for only a few dollars, and then you can paint over the old ones and put on new ones wherever you'd like.

I used masking tape, to err on the safe side. It's also useful to make neat edges for custom camo paints.

For the Axis at least even they painted around their symbols. When they went from German grey to Afrika tan or even white wash for snow, and just painted around them.

I spray the entire mini then just hand paint any markings in later. Most of the stuff is pretty basic so no great skill needed, I found the symbols in the upper right of the unit cards to be perfect for vehicle markings so often bob a little masking tape over and cut these out to make a template for airbrushing the stars on the US stuff. alternatively you can pick up a lot of 1/48 decal sheets from the internet at good prices, have fun!