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Modeling a Rock Facade

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  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 24 posts
Modeling a Rock Facade
Posted by JakeTurner11 on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 12:46 AM

Hello, 

Im planning to build a structure with a rock facade entrance similar to the one pictured below. Ive purchased the unpainted facade from plastruct, but not sure what the best technique would be to paint it. Airbrush, paintbrush, washes, etc? I would appreciate any and all ideas. 

Thanks! Rock Facade

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 10,582 posts
Posted by mlehman on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 1:43 AM

Foe individua stones, paintbrushes would be my first choice. A good set of markers could also work.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 2:17 AM

I agree with Mike, either a brush or markers should work well.

A friend gave me this kit...

...and I decided to build it into a larger structure by using both long walls, modified, on the aisle side, facing the viewer.  The unseen back is plain .060" styrene sheet...

I didn't want to leave the rough-cut stone all the same colour, though, so used Pollyscale paint, applied with a brush, to paint the stone in several not too dissimilar shades...

...after slathering on some pre-mixed drywall compound...

...I let it dry, then wiped off the excess using a clean, dry cloth (best done outdoors on account of the dust when shaking out the rag)...

...giving me a newly-built structure with new-looking mortar...

....but a quick wash with some well-thinned Pollyscale toned down the mortar and also subdued all of the varied stone colours...

For your more modern structure, you may wish to use a water-based paint, well thinned, to create a suitable mortar colour, as I doubt that you'd want to age it too much.

In fact, it might be preferable to use an airbrush or spray can to first paint the stone sections with the mortar colour of your choice, then use the brush or markers to colour the individual stones.  If the latter operation becomes tedious, clean the brush or cap the markers and take a break.  Come back to it when you feel like it. Taking the extra time to do it properly can be much more rewarding than a quick job that you may later come to regret.

Wayne

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 3:07 AM

Nice Wayne,

I had a different building by the same manufacturer--although I didn't keep the box. 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 1:01 PM

That turned out really nicely, Chip!  YesYes

Wayne

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 24 posts
Posted by JakeTurner11 on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 10:30 PM

Wow! Thanks for all the feedback. Those are both excellent examples! I love the rock work Wayne, I was considering using that tecnique with the wash but it may weather the wall a little more than I want. 

How did you do it chip? The wall on the church looks a little less weathered. 

Thanks again for for the feedback! 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 11:09 PM

JakeTurner11
How did you do it chip? The wall on the church looks a little less weathered. 

I wanted a new look for the church on the old layout. In its new home, I'll reevaluate.  

As to how it was done, I used 4 basic earth/rock colors, and painted each individual rock and varied the colors of the rocks. It took about 2 weeks to paint.  

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    July 2012
  • 24 posts
Posted by JakeTurner11 on Thursday, February 22, 2018 11:46 AM

Time well spent. It looks excellent! Thanks for the tips! 

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