How do I Stucco an N-Scale Commercial Building?

[Georgia Observer]

 I plan to use some DPM module parts to scratchbuild a textile mill for my N-Scale layout set on the Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia Railway (TAG).  Unlike most southern textile facilities it has a stucco finish--originally white but now a dirty gray.  Since the prototype is concret block covered by stucco, I thought that maybe some solution rubbed on the DPM brick building modules might do the trick.  But, what solution?  I don't really want to have to use raw styrene cut out all the windows, etc. but that might be the only way to go.  Still, the styrene will have to be coated with something.  Any suggestions--please?!

To see an architects rendering of the industry I plan to model go to:

http://www.yatesbleachery.com/main.html

Naturally, it will be heavily compressed for the layout, using the oldest sections that date back to the 50's.

Thanks,

Georgia Observer

[Phoebe Vet]

You might try a rattle can of texture paint from Lowes or Home Depot.

Try it on a piece of scrap first.

I have used the light brown to make a dirt parking lot.

 

[MisterBeasley]

Phoebe Vet

You might try a rattle can of texture paint from Lowes or Home Depot.

Here's an example of that technique:

This is a light tan textured paint from Rustoleum.  It comes out speckled just like this.  It has a nice rough texture and is quite durable as well.  I think the graininess is sufficient that you could even give it a thin coat of a lighter colored paint (again, try it on a scrap piece first) and the texture would still show through.

[dknelson]

Give some serious thought to what prototype stucco would look like, if scaled down to N.  The roughness that we notice in "real life" would seemingly scale down to a surprisingly smooth surface with basically a hint of texture.

One very traditional technique for modeling stucco is to use sandpaper of the appropriate grit size as a "building paper."  Once painted it made very plausible looking stucco.  This was likely more popular back when more modelers were accustomed to using brick paper and knew the techniques, but it is still worth considering.

A second idea that come to mind is that Plastruct actually makes sheet plastic "stucco" -- to my eye it looks a bit coarse for N but you might want to consider it.

Lastly, and cheapest! , take a look at the somewhat textured plastic that is used for milk jugs, scoopable cat litter, and a variety of household cleaning products such as Arm & Hammer Shower Clean spray.  It is not smooth, not nubbly, but something in between, rather like the texture an orange peel has.  If painted I think it would give an "impression" of stucco which is really all you are hoping for.  If you have one gallon milk jugs or the largest size of Tidy Cat scoopable cat litter container, quite a large expanse of fairly flat plastic can be obtained.  And by the way what you don't use for stucco, consider using for roads and driveways.

Dave Nelson 

[R. T. POTEET]

 LIQUITEX CERAMIC STUCCO TEXTURE GEL available at Arts/Crafts stores.

I might add that there was an article in one of the N-Scale specific a few year past; I don't have access to this article at this particular moment. However I did go to an arts supply store and it was readily available. It came in a tube--a rather large one if I remember correctly--and was a little on the expensive side but could be thinned out with water and would, therefore, probably go a ways. The Liquitex product comes in a jar and can be applied with a paint brush although you would probably have better luck with a (plastic) pallet knife.

Other products you might consider are:

 -----Durham's Water Putty (but keep in mind that this dries very, very, very hard);

-----Texture Spray Paints'

-----Fine Sand and Spray Adhesive -- a product called Scenic Sand can be found at Michaels -- this sand might be just a little coarse for N-Scale but is not too expensive and you might give it a try;

-----Textured Paper (glued over your structure);

-----BONDO®, and lastly

-----drywall compound.

[jbu50]

I mulled over this same question not too long ago when I had an old garage that I wanted to model that was stuccoed. I used artists oil paints, Titanium White. I squeezed out just a bit and used a "0" brush. Take some of the paint and spread it on a small section, kind of thinly, then take your brush, maybe even a "00" or "000" brush and just dab, dab,dab,dab,dab all over the area you painted. Real quick dabs just everywhere, no pattern. It'll raise the paint surface ever so slightly. The finner tip brush you use, the smaller the raised points will be. If I can find a photo I took of the garage after it was done you'll get a better idea. Hope this helps.

John

[Georgia Observer]

 Thank you everyone for these excellent leads.  I appreciate your help and am on the "right track" now.

Georgia Observer