How do you think this colour will do?

[Anonymous]

I have just finished putting a coat of plaster over my foam rock/hill/mountain bases and am thinking towards the next few steps in my scenery's evolution. So while I sit here, I am noticing that I have a quart of paint which is a dark brown colour called Scorched Brown. Now most articles and "How to" pieces I've read suggest using a tan colour paint over the ground (prior to foam and flocking). Do you think that this Scorched Brown will be ok, or do you think it would be to dark? My layout has a mountain at one end which has a double tunnel passing through it, a lower mountain on the other end with one small tunnel, and a valley through the centre. There are two plate girder bridges on the outside loops and a single 18" long chorded bridge which passes over the centre at an angle to the valley which runs NS/WE . The overall size is only 8x4. Opinions?

Thanks,
Trevor

[selector]

I think you will be disappointed, Trev. When I went to the hardware store (an independant one that gives arimiles [^]), I knew from reading here and from the MRR DVD on layout building that a light tan colour was best. I selected a tint that I thought might be TOO light, just in case I made a mistake.

In a way, yes, and in a way, no. I found it much more appealing and realistic once I added some whitewash acrylic paint to it, and a wee bit of yellow.

My advice, honestly, is to find the middle tan or brown tint on the placard at your hardware store, and then pick at least TWO SHADES LIGHTER. Even then, you will probably find that it dries too dark. If so, then adjust its tint as I described.

Please let us know, either way, about the results. Your feedback will undoubtedly help others to decide.

[cheese3]

I used a dark brown color with ground foam sprinkled oon it and i do not think it came out bad. ou be the judge

[bogp40]

You generally want a color that is fairly close to the dirt of the area you are modeling. If the paint is too dark, lighten it by using white paint.