Painting Structures made of Card Stock?

[simon1966]

As my post about Muir Models and Speedcraft drifts slowly down the list with no response[:(] (just kidding, obviously I have found myself an old and obscure kit), I find myself faced with having to paint a structure made from a wooden frame covered in cardstock. It seems to me that there would be some risk of warping, swelling and other generally undesirable consequences of using my usual water based Modelflex acrylics. Anyone have any advise on painting card stock structures?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Hi Troy, personally I prefer "illustration board" over card stock. It is a bit more sturdy and is water base paint friendly. If you must use card stock, I would laminate additional layers (Elmers "Glue All") and support it with studs and braces at critical areas. Good luck

[Mark300]

Simon....

'Prismacolor' markers found at any decent drafting/art supply shop should do the trick on card stock & keep 'warpage' to a minimum. Don't use anything that is water based.

It's what architectural modelers do when dealing with coloring cardstock or archtiectural illustration board.

Tip.....try scribing the surface with closely spaced parellel lines using a sharp X-acto blade and a steel edge. It will texture the surface and help produce a convincing, good looking masonry wall. After coloring the wall the scribing alleviates warping as well. Be careful and practice before working on a pre-manufactured piece.

There are LOTS of colors too.

HTH

Mark

[Anonymous]

Hi Simon. Now I don't feel quite as bad. [:)]

Joe

[simon1966]

Thanks for the tips, the walls of this structure are already scribed to look a little like planked siding. The assembled kit has a decent internal wooden frame that provides some support for the walls. I figured that water based paints would be bad, so will head for the art store and see about some of the primsacolor markers. Its going to be a fairly grimy structure as it is located in the yard, so some heavy weathering with powders should do the trick.

Thanks for the input

[areibel]

Another old timer trick, paint it first with a light coat of automotive primer- just dust it on in a couple real light coats. Once it's dried the water based paints won't soak in.

[simon1966]

Now that is an interesting idea. I was wondering about using testors dullcoat as an initial coat to provide a similar protection?

[Jetrock]

Dullcote doesn't quite do the same thing--automotive primer does a good job. I have used spray paint as an undercoat on several cardstock-based structures and it prevents warping effectively.

[mikebonellisr]

I have been using krylon matte finish,workable spray to seal structures made of illustration board and strathmore papers.some have been done 15 to 20 years ago with no warping.I haven't tried auto primer,but that sounds like a better idea It's great to learn on here!

[simon1966]

I used the autospray suggestion yesterday evening and it worked great. Modelfles paint went on very well and the structure has remained in shape. A bit of weathering today and some finishing details and onto the layout it goes.

Thanks folks!!

[rogerhensley]

Maybe I missed it in the above replies, but Floquil does the job quite nicely. I have used it for years on cardstock with no problems whatever. I haven't checked lately, but many of their colors were available in spray cans if that's the way you want to go. All of my older structures were brushed with Floquil.

I don't mean the Poly-S but the Solvent based original. Yes, you can get it from Walthers, Micro-Mark, and several other on-line places as well as many hobby shops.

I'll go back and look for your Muir post. I used to sell those kits when I had my shop.