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My First All-Acrylic Paint Job

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  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Colorado (the flat part)
  • 607 posts
My First All-Acrylic Paint Job
Posted by Colorado_Mac on Thursday, December 3, 2015 12:46 AM

Although I've been building model trains, cars and armor for years, this is the first time I have ever completely finished something with acrylic paints.  I even airbrushed acrylics for the first time.  I'm pretty pleased with the looks of it, and the ease-of-use the acrylic paint provided.  The weathering is chalk, however.

New (correct?) Link!

Background Warehouse

Sean

HO Scale CSX Modeler

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, December 3, 2015 1:16 AM

The link doesn't work, Sean

I'm looking forward to seeing your project...

Maybe this will work?

[edit] Since you got your link working OK, Sean, I removed the one I provided...

Super paint work BTW Yes

Ed

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sliver City,Mich.
  • 708 posts
Posted by Catt on Thursday, December 3, 2015 4:25 AM

Looks pretty good from here.Yes Yes

Johnathan(Catt) Edwards 100 % Michigan Made
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, December 3, 2015 9:05 AM

Looks great !  How did you prepare the acrylic paint for air brushing?  Did you use the typical bottles found in arts and crafts stores?

I've had mixed results.

Mike.

  • Member since
    November 2006
  • From: NW Pa Snow-belt.
  • 2,216 posts
Posted by ricktrains4824 on Thursday, December 3, 2015 9:59 AM

Looks good!

I really like the weathering job, looks just right for a working warehouse but not overdone to the point it looks neglected. Very nice!

Ricky W.

HO scale Proto-freelancer.

My Railroad rules:

1: It's my railroad, my rules.

2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.

3: Any objections, consult above rules.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Boise, Idaho
  • 1,036 posts
Posted by E-L man tom on Thursday, December 3, 2015 10:18 AM

Looks great Mac! I have done a simialr warehouse project, except I used foam core for the building front, painted beige to simulate large concrete panel sections, instead of styrene (Plastruct?), to simulate corrugated metal. I like your idea on using chalk for the weathering. I've done other structures using acrylic paints (which I almost exclusively use). The dull finish that acrylics leave not only takes away the toy-like gloss but also gives the surface some "teeth" for holding chalks and weathering powders. 

Tom Modeling the free-lanced Toledo Erie Central switching layout.
  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Colorado (the flat part)
  • 607 posts
Posted by Colorado_Mac on Thursday, December 3, 2015 4:00 PM

mbinsewi

...How did you prepare the acrylic paint for air brushing?  Did you use the typical bottles found in arts and crafts stores...

Mike, I'm glad you like it. The project was a hodgepodge. I went into it with an experimental mindset, so I just used what I had on hand. The blue is from a 5-year-old, never opened bottle of Floquil and the tan was indeed one of those arts and crafts store bottles. Unfortunately, I used the last of it and tossed it so I don't know the name.  I will say the blue came out in a more consistent shade than the tan, but that's not necessarily a bad look! Oh, and the white and black are Testor's acrylic brushed on unthinned out of those little teeny bottles.

For the airbrush, I thinned the Floquil with Testor's acrylic thinner and the tan with water.  To the proverbial "2% milk"  thickness or thereabouts.  I used a heavy-flow airbrush nozzle, but I might by one specifically for acrylics - I don't know that it's needed, though.

Sean

HO Scale CSX Modeler

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Colorado (the flat part)
  • 607 posts
Posted by Colorado_Mac on Thursday, December 3, 2015 4:03 PM

I'm glad you guys liked it.  I will say that it is probably my best structure weathering job ever, and that might be partly due to the flatness/toothiness of the paint that Tom mentioned.  I felt like I had great "control" over the chalk.

Sean

HO Scale CSX Modeler

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, December 3, 2015 4:15 PM

Excellent work..

I been using  acrylic paint  for years.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Clinton, MO, US
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Posted by Medina1128 on Friday, December 4, 2015 10:51 AM

BRAKIE

Excellent work..

I been using  acrylic paint  for years.

 

Like Brakie, I've been using acrylic paint for years, too. For years, I had been initimidated by airbrushes, until I bought one and tried it out. Now, I have three and absolutely love them.

 

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