How to Repaint a Building (Yes, I got it wrong the first time!)
This was really easy and made such a difference to the model building. I started it 4 years’ ago and it has just languished because something just always bothered me… the colour.
Here’s how I repainted it in 4 easy steps.
Materials
The Amazon links are all items I have either bought or bought something similar to myself. Clicking on any links to Amazon will give me a small affiliate income which I use to produce more videos. Every little helps!
- A building you’ve already painted and it’s just not doing it for you any more…
- Vallejo or other artists’ acrylic colours. I used Vallejo Blue Grey Pale 70.905 (https://amzn.to/2wozRB7), Black Grey 70.862 (https://amzn.to/2BTAmJI), Dark Sand 70.847 (https://amzn.to/2wnAcUU) and White 70.951 (https://amzn.to/2o7O69N)
- Acrylic Flow Improver – I used Windsor & Newton but there are loads of different makes
https://amzn.to/2P0uAr8 - Mig Productions Dark Wash – any dark wash will do and you can make your own if you prefer from enamel paint and white spirit
- White Spirit
https://amzn.to/2BLoDN5
The “Real” World
These are some photos I picked up off Google Street View – one of the most excellent resources for a modeller living on the other side of the world to where they are modelling:
The Start
This is a South River Modelworks kit (well two of them) and you can see what colours Bob van Gelder, the manufacturer used on his Threadwell diorama and his Ware Knitters dioramas on his website: http://southrivermodelworks.com
This is what the building looked like when I started as it sat on my layout:
Here’s that in close up:
I went over the mortar lines:
Did a dark grey wash on the stones:
Added a lighter grey wash all over:
And finally added back the shadows with a different type of dark wash:
The Final Result
I’m really pleased how the buildings turned out. Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Index
- 00:17 Method
- 07:07 Final Result
If you are enjoying the series then please subscribe for the next instalment:
Fantastic as always, great job on the redo.
Thanks Jeff
Hi Kathy,
I’m afraid we all do it (get it wrong I mean). The thing I try and impress on people painting scenery is that nothing in nature is the same colour all over, that’s why so many kit built buildings look so bland and , let’s face it, toy like. I find that a few greenish streaks where gutters have run over and spots of pigeon poo on the roofs makes a lot of difference. You may gather that I am really a painter rather than a true long term railway modeller.
Sorry, I didn’t sign my name which is Terry
Terry
I totally agree. I still need to weather this and those green areas will be on there. I do have a couple of outbuildings and awnings to build first before I do that as they will affect where I weather.
I think artists do the most amazing layouts. Troels Kirk is an example and he is so gifted.
Kathy
Hi, Kathy. I’m very impressed with your new work on 3-d printing. It is the future all right.
HOWEVER! It does seem to take a long time. As far as printing figures, after all the digital prep, don’t you think falling back, way back, to John Allen’s masterly work with wire and modeling wax would be a great efficiency? I have no doubt you would be a master of that too!
Be st wishes, Bill
Hi Bill
Everything seems to take a long time!
Honestly, I’d rather be on the computer than using wire and wax. I live on computers so it’s my natural medium. As for taking a long time, I can get a figure from MakeHuman and print in a matter of hours. I also have a full 3D scan of myself so the future is full of possibilities in the 3D printing world that don’t need me to be an expert sculptor (which I will never be).
I guess it will depend on individuals but I am far happier sculpting on a computer than with my hands. I have great respect for those that can do it with their hands though! For me, 3D printing is much shorter in time.
Kathy