I've started putting together some modular structures: they look great except the walls and details are that plastic-y grey coming out of the box. I look at the illustrations in the Walther's Flyer and THEIR modular structures are a lovely old brick color. Anybody got an idea about how I can replicate that brick color? I'm slightly adept at airbrushing and I have a ton of weathering powders. Help, please?
Karl
I use the cheapest automotive ruddy brown/red primer spraypaint.Dullcote can also be applied after,then I use a thin whitewash to show the mortar lines.A search of these forums will have many helpful ideas.
Various shades of reddish/brownish primer work. I also mix a lot of craft paint colors to get a wider range of brick color. Spray these through my airbrush. It's the mortar lines that really make a brick structure look good.
Thanks for the advice: the primer, acrylic or oil-based? Is it already in a spray can? Or do I use my airbrush? I can apply Dullcoat and THEN try to wash in the mortar lines? What do you use as your thin whitewash and how do you apply it to get those wonderful mortar lines? Sorry to come back with those questions, I guess I'm more of a novice than I thought. And again, thanks for the advice.
Karl Sonkin
Menlo Park, CA
I sometimes use a very thin wash (9 parts isopropyl, 7 parts water, 1 part acrylic paint, 2-3 drops of Photoflo or dishwashing detergent). Concrete color works, or a cream color from Michaels. Paint it into the lines or swab it onto the brick and then wipe of after a few moments (creates a haze on the brick).
In the below picture I rubbed in white spackle with my fingers, seal with dull-cote. (the structure on left came that way from factory).
Another suggestion (read some where) is to spray with the mortar line, then color the bricks with art pencils).
Photo
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
I paint my brick a different way. I start with airbrushing the walls the mortar-color and then I use Latex-sponges to dab the bricks a dull red color, then I take a second and third red color for variation. Last I use an wash of black ink and acrylic Raw-umber.
http://i44.tinypic.com/15n4myg.jpg
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
I like rust colored primer, too. It comes in a spray can. However, I use other colors, too, because I don't want all my buildings to be exactly the same color.
I spray the brick color on. Once it's set for a day, I rub Hydrocal powder into the mortar lines. Keeping the walls flat on the table, I mist water well above the walls so it just falls in a fine "rain" on the walls. This sets up in an hour or so. Yes, it will look much too white. First, rub off the excess with a paper towel. Then apply a thin wash of India Ink in water. That will tone down the white and leave a more realistic weathered mortar.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
"Once it's set for a day, I rub Hydrocal powder into the mortar lines. Keeping the walls flat on the table, I mist water well above the walls..."
Interesting approach will have to try that sometime
This is a Model Power building I used the Hydrocal technique on:
The Campbell's Soup ad is a home-made decal from a downloaded image.
Someday I hope to be as good as Mr. B.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
You can get "art markers" at a local art supply or craft store. They have some dark reds that look good. Their tips are hard enough that they only paint the tops of the bricks so the gray 'mortar' between the bricks is left gray. Then you can use a fine tip marker or small brush to paint some bricks individually in slightly different shades.
To introduce a twist into the plasticky bricky problem in the Walthers Modulars Series... I have learned that the older kits (Sterling Diary) and the seperate blister packs are one type of plain molded plastic tannish color. And recent structures like the 3n1 kits and the Tannery Kit are in a slightly lighter (Noticeably) shade of molded plastic tan.
I plan to use Bradgon Powders to attack the buildings. Part of the problem is I used the Tamiya's Buff Water based paints in a few spots for concrete foundations, docks etc. And also the solvent glue has gotten between the bricks on some wall panels making for wet shiney spots. Ugh.
Since I am a industry complex (Literally) I intend to blast all of the buildings some shade of soot from steam and idling switchers combined with fades and a touch of other powders here and there until the buildings look better under the glare of a digital camera.
I will post pictures when I get it good enough. But who knows what will come out of this little adventure. I do have a bunch of previous pictures that are quite self evident. A search of my posts will show up links to these images under Modulars type topics that I have written.
I think the very next (And LAST.... so sick of these series LOL) building Im planning to do is to assemble the outerwalls, spray on a tan paint, INSTALL the windows and glass and move on. Since it will have a interior rail bay, the docks will be irrevelant except for the trucks.
Gate 5