Acrylics

This week at the modelling desk I’ve been working on the painting of the first two buildings. It’s only recently that I’ve started using acrylic paints after many years of just using enamels. Getting back into making buildings after a lengthy hiatus proved a suitable opportunity to give acrylics a go. They’re certainly less pungent and I’m slowly developing the technique needed to get what I want out of them. 

Expect I’ll continue to use enamel paints for locos and stock, for continuity as much as anything, but I’m completely sold on using acrylic paints for scenic work.

First on the bench is an Intentio Bothy / Coal Office kit. Chosen due to its similarity to the Glyn Valley waiting rooms to be a waiting room for the prospective passenger at Wheal Ponder. My only bugbear is that Intentio don’t provide instructions because they consider their kits to be self explanatory. Having built two of their kits now, I’d beg to differ because I’ve realised too late that I’ve not done something as intended which has taken some work to correct  maybe I need to learn to be more patient and dry run assemble the whole kit in future. I’ve added some guttering and down pipes from ModelU to add some extra detail  just the roof tiles to finish off now.

Second building is the bagged clay store for the Dry. I’ve been experimenting with the finish on this as the smallest of the Dry buildings. A base coat of Halfords grey primer was first applied. To this was added various    shades of grey, grey and pale brown to give a varied stone effect with a wash of diluted black to bring it all together and highlight the mortar courses. Some of these colours being stippled on or wiped off to get the desired effect.

Satisfied with the result, my next task will be the other stone built buildings in the Clay Dry area whilst I remember how I’ve got this effect!

I’m pleased with the results, but progress has been slower than I’d hoped for, Kettering show day is tomorrow and I’d hoped to get the buildings finished by then so I can move onto the scenic stage after. I’m a long way off that, but I’m not bothered by it. That’s why I’ve set no further deadlines for myself with this layout.