Finishing Styrene shake shingles to look like wood

[RR_Mel]

I’m working on a scratch build house and I have a couple of sheets of Plastruct 91656 HO Wood Shake Shingles (Stryene).  I haven’t been very successful making Styrene look like wood.  Any pointers are welcome.  If it isn’t doable I also have a package of Campbell 800 shingles that I can use.

 

I have the basic house ready for the finishing details.  I have installed fourteen 12 volt bulbs, five 2.5mm 40ma porch lights and nine 4mm 70ma for interior lights.  I will drive the lights with a 14 port Arduino Random Lighting controller.  I run my 12 volt incandescent bulbs between 8½ to 9 volts for realisum.

 

 

 

I went with micro connectors for easy access, the interior sections drop in and connect.

 

Windows and doors will be Tichy when they arrive, window covering will be City Classics.  All of the basswood is Midwest.

 

This has been a recliner chair project while I recover from an Arthritic Bursitis flare up in my right ankle.

 

Any thoughts on how to make the Styrene shingles look like real shake shingles will be really appreciated.

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

 

[DSchmitt]

Not shingles but techniques on these two sites might work

http://hon3annual.com/turning-styrene-into-wood/

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/aging_wood/

 

 

[HO-Velo]

Mel,  Personally I'd go with the Campbells shingles, I like their look and texture.

The freight doors on the abandoned warehouse were done with a base coat of tan then light built-up applications of Dr. Bens stains & finished with a bit of india ink/alcohol wash.  The warehouse and doors are made of hydrocal, but same technique might work with styrene?  Used similar technique on styrene when I still had a supply of Floquil stains with the base coat Floquil Foundation.

Good luck and regards,  Peter

 

 

[RR_Mel]

DSchmitt

Not shingles but techniques on these two sites might work

http://hon3annual.com/turning-styrene-into-wood/

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/aging_wood/

 

 

 

Thanks for the links!  Very good info there.  It looks like a fairly large learning curve learning the work with Styrene when it comes to weathering.  Both sites sure make it look easy.

 

I have most of the tools and supplies needed to get started according to the sites you linked to.  I guess the first thing I need to do is prime the shingled with an Acrylic primer without dinging the fine detail.

 

Thanks again!

 

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[RR_Mel]

HO-Velo

Mel,  Personally I'd go with the Campbells shingles, I like their look and texture.

 

 

 

I’ve used Campbell’s shingles for well over 30 years without any problems and they look as good or better than the real thing when applied correctly.  They will be my back up If I screw up the Stryene sheets.

 

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

[dstarr]

I would paint the styrene shingles with light gray auto primer, either Krylon or Rustoleum.  That will give you the driftwood gray color wood turns with exposure to rainwater and sunlight.  Then I might drybrush the shingles with some dark brown paint to simulate the color they come before the rain and sun turn them gray. Or I mighty drybrush them with grimy black to simulate the dark sooty look they give in urban areas with dirty air.