I use flat acrylic paint, and put it on heavy with a bristle brush. The flat paint takes care of the "sheen" issue, and the brushmarks simulate wood grain with out having to scratch up the plastic. Once the first coat has thouroughly dried you can apply washes of other colors or dyes to highlight the effect.
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
Spray the parts with Matte finish and you can then paint them any color that you desire. I'd start with a light brown and dry brush dark brown over it...or vice versa.
Kevin, If you are looking for gray I think you could use gray instead of the green I used and do the same thing. If you want more gray just wipe off less of the base coat gray or add more in layers. Most all of the plastic buildings have a built in wood grain and the gray paint will flow into the low spots. See pictures. Here is what I did with Green for roof moss. The key is the over coat of Dullcoat to make it flat. What Mike said sounds good too. Hope this helps.
Kevin,
If you are looking for gray I think you could use gray instead of the green I used and do the same thing. If you want more gray just wipe off less of the base coat gray or add more in layers. Most all of the plastic buildings have a built in wood grain and the gray paint will flow into the low spots. See pictures.
Here is what I did with Green for roof moss. The key is the over coat of Dullcoat to make it flat. What Mike said sounds good too.
Hope this helps.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Kevin:
Another approach to this is to "distress" the plastic by giving it grain / cracks. There are some tools sold that you can use to gouge the surface of the part but I just use an Atlas "Snap Saw" and drag the teeth across the part in a wavy motion to simulate wood grain. Coarse sand paper can also be used to rough up the plastic.
I then paint the part light gray (like driftwood), and then a second coat of a diluted dark color (usually dark brown that settles down into the grain / cracks). Let the paint dry and then lightly sand with fine grit sand paper which will remove / lighten the dark color on the surface and make the dark color in the grain / cracks stand out more. You want to do this a bit irregularly so that the surface finish is uneven.
You can then "dry brush" some weathering onto the part to simulate dirt, soot, etc.
Good luck!
Mike
If you could post some pics that would be great.
Kevin
Can't stop working on the railroad!
RRaddict Does anyone know how to make plastic look like aged wood or does anyone know where you can buy simple building kits made of wood. I have a small layout and I am just trying to model one of those towns that if you blinked you wouldn't see it. Kevin
Does anyone know how to make plastic look like aged wood or does anyone know where you can buy simple building kits made of wood. I have a small layout and I am just trying to model one of those towns that if you blinked you wouldn't see it.
I guess my first question would be what color plastic are you working with?
I have had good luck on the brown plastic roof of a Plasticville log cabin by using some Ceramcoat English Yew green paint. I put it on then wipe it off right away so it goes into the molded cracks. Then I sprinkle a very little green grass over it to look like moss growing. Then because most plastics have a gloss I spray over the top of the whole building with Testors Spray Lacquer Dullcoat.
Have also done it on the hobo buildings.
I could post some pictures if you would like to see the effect.
Good question,
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