I decided that as long as my painting projects involve making something look crappy, Ill be ok! Here are a couple of shots showing my progress. I'm not done yet, but what do you guys think? By the way, these are buildings that I'm trying rehabilitate from the disgard pile. Please don't be too harsh.
Wow, you've discovered how to spin straw into gold. Very nice restoration work on those 2 buildings. I like the roof details.
With those big storefront windows, I'd think about putting a detailed interior scene and lighting inside the buildings. If nothing else, put streetlights out in front so you can show the buildings off when running in semi-darkness.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I Google for things like "grocery store shelves" under Images. I printed some on cardstock, the thick computer paper, and set them up as racks of store shelves. There was an article in MR a while back, suggesting taking digital photos of the insides of stores and using those.
This is the interior of my Woolworths store:
And this is what it looks like with the building on it:
The bulb and socket was about 50 cents. The rest was just printed on the computer from downloads. The floor was duplicated from scanning another model's floor. I Googled for "Woolworths" and found an image of one of their signs from the mid-1900's, downloaded it and printed it. The awning was hand-drawn in MS Paint (5 minutes work) and printed on cardstock. The window shades are tissue paper glued inside, and even the window lettering was done on the computer and printed on decal paper.
The buildings you've renovated are really pretty nice models, and you've done well by them. Hopefully, your junk bin contains a lot more like those. Keep up the good work.
Vast improvement over the first pic!
MisterB-Great idea! Thanks!
Details?
Ah, my friend that is when you bring the building to life again.You know what they say?it's all in the details.So sit back relax,put the old thinking cap on,grab the Walthers catalog,and have a field day,oh by the way,I'm in the same boat your in,EXPENDITURES,Now I have to submit a purchase order when I want to buy something for the rail,and hope and pray it's approved.All kidding aside,have fun when detailing your long lost buildings,take some spackling compound tint it with an appropriate mortar color and rub into your brick walls.Let it dry a day or so,then clean off excess with double 00 steel wool.WALA a nice looking brick wall.Try it.you will be surprised.Ok I put my 2 pennies in.,till then take care.
Mike
spurline55 wrote: Details?Ah, my friend that is when you bring the building to life again.You know what they say?it's all in the details.So sit back relax,put the old thinking cap on,grab the Walthers catalog,and have a field day,oh by the way,I'm in the same boat your in,EXPENDITURES,Now I have to submit a purchase order when I want to buy something for the rail,and hope and pray it's approved.All kidding aside,have fun when detailing your long lost buildings,take some spackling compound tint it with an appropriate mortar color and rub into your brick walls.Let it dry a day or so,then clean off excess with double 00 steel wool.WALA a nice looking brick wall.Try it.you will be surprised.Ok I put my 2 pennies in.,till then take care.Mike
I'm more of a broad strokes kind of guy. Making myself finish the buildings is intimidating. Like everything else on my layout, I just have to take my time. I've found that when I try to to something it will turn out ok. I just have to get up the nerve. I did try to simulate grout with watered down white paint. White paint is problem I had. I should have used gray. Oh well, you don't learn if you don't try. To tone down the white I had to use a fairly dark wash. Then I thought the wash was too dark so I took a damp towel and wiped off the excess. Reading this forum has been a blessing and a curse. I see everybody else's pictures and realize that my good enough isn't always good enough. Oh well, it makes me a better modeler overall. Thanks for the words of encouragement. By the way, welcome to the forum!
L Cowan wrote: (my spelling is terrable, sorry)
Mr. Cowan.
You do yourself an injustice. As far as I can make out, this was the only mistake that you made. I just hope that my spelling is as good as yours. Next time, don't point out non-existant spelling errors as none of us are perfect. The only time you will get a correction, is if you spell a proper name or Company name incorrectly as it makes it difficult to do a Web search sometimes.
Blue Flamer.
PS. I previewed this three times and found an error that I had to correct each time. I hope that it is OK now. (Touch wood.)
B F.
secondhandmodler If I might ask what windows did you put in the upper rooms?something from your saveings or did you buy them someplace? reasson for asking like them .thank you for your time .
slow train Ed
slow train Ed wrote: secondhandmodler If I might ask what windows did you put in the upper rooms?something from your saveings or did you buy them someplace? reasson for asking like them .thank you for your time .slow train Ed
Old-looking buildings are the best way to compliment a model RR and I have many buildings from the downtown section to the farm and rural sections. Nothing beats a weather beaten building, but not so much as to hide brick and mortar details, you have hit the right combination. I have many re-built structures, some that wouldn't pass building inspection and some that are nearly out of the box, but all have weathering on the top of the list.
I use many kits in HO, most are Design Preservation and the rest are build-ups of two or more old kits, some are scratch and kit combinations and some who knows what and when! I have detailed with the brick set that were with some DPM kits and made chimneys on the outside and some coming out of the roofs of the buildings.
Question; what types of paints do you use? Just curious, I have posted a thread on this and the FSM magazine site about the usefulness of Acrylics and for weathering artists chaulk, just an idea.
The best results of any model project, no matter the viewer's opinion, is what you get from the experience!
johncpo
johncpo wrote: Old-looking buildings are the best way to compliment a model RR and I have many buildings from the downtown section to the farm and rural sections. Nothing beats a weather beaten building, but not so much as to hide brick and mortar details, you have hit the right combination. I have many re-built structures, some that wouldn't pass building inspection and some that are nearly out of the box, but all have weathering on the top of the list.I use many kits in HO, most are Design Preservation and the rest are build-ups of two or more old kits, some are scratch and kit combinations and some who knows what and when! I have detailed with the brick set that were with some DPM kits and made chimneys on the outside and some coming out of the roofs of the buildings. Question; what types of paints do you use? Just curious, I have posted a thread on this and the FSM magazine site about the usefulness of Acrylics and for weathering artists chaulk, just an idea.The best results of any model project, no matter the viewer's opinion, is what you get from the experience!johncpo
I've developed a liking for spray can primers. When I can't find a primer in the color I want, I use a satin finish. As far as the weathering, I just used diluted artist acrylics. I dilute the paints with rubbing alcohol and spray with a dollar store spray bottle. My first coat of black was WAY to thick. The building looked like it had smoke damage. I took a wet rag and wiped off the excess. I've never tried chalks for weathering. I think that will be on my list of things I need. Thanks for commenting on the pictures.
Have Fun.... Bob.
Bob grech wrote:Nice job on those buildings! Keep up the good work...
That's like getting a compliment from Picasso! Thanks!