How to Model Rust using Pigments I love using pigments to model rust because they have a slight texture that is very convincing and they are so easy to use. The important thing is to put them into a carrier such as isopropyl alcohol (IPA) which enables you to use them like paints. They brush …
How to Add Lighting to a Model Building If we want to add an extra layer of realism to our models then you can’t beat light effects. This video shows how easy it is to add an LED to a model building. The first step is to solder leads on to the LED but if …
How to Add Interiors to Model Buildings Model buildings all need something to bring their interiors to light. I have gone the whole hog and built detailed interiors complete with figures and furniture, wall paper and lights. However, we can create the illusion of an interior with a much simpler set of items such as …
How to add Guttering to Model Roofs The final details we are adding to our roofs are guttering and down pipes. Most buildings have some way to take rain water from the roof to the ground to avoid it sheeting down on anyone waking past. Whilst such small buildings wouldn’t necessarily have guttering, it is …
How to Add Details to Model Roofs Last week we looked at how to paint roofs to make them look realistic; this week, we’re looking at how to add details to your model roofs such as eaves and soffits. One of the scale houses in the videos is tiled and the other is tar-papered. Tiled …
How to Improve Plastic Model Roofs Model structure kits often come with moulded plastic roofs. They usually have enough detail to look good and with some simple techniques they can easily be improved. This week, using the scale houses, we are looking at adding texture to the tar paper roof and then painting the roofs …
How to Model Machinery This video shows how to paint and weather model machinery in a few easy steps using paint, pigments and washes. Many of our models, such as workshops and factories, need machinery if we want to model interiors. This machinery could be anything from textile looms to lathes but regardless of the …
How to Model Peeling Paint This video shows you how to create an amazing peeling paint effect in just 4 easy steps. The secret ingredient is hair spray! Peeling paint is all around us on dilapidated and not so dilapidated buildings. It only takes a few years and the elements will easily attack a thin …
How to Turn Plastic into Wood This video shows how to paint a styrene kit so that it looks like realistic wood. Turning plastic into wood is a key skill in modelling. The key is not just to paint realistic colours but also to add a little texture to bring out the detail. Most plastic …
How to Paint Rusty Concrete Last week we looked at how to paint concrete; this week we are adding that rusty dusty build up that you often see weathering it. The build up is mostly rust but also other dust can accumulate giving a paler more tan colour. The main colour is a very dark …