Painting wood kits - need info and help.

tommann

Posts: 239
Joined: 2005-03-24

Hi;

I have a couple of Atlas "Barb's Bungalow", garage kits. I expected plastic like the other Atlas home kits, but these are made by N-Scale Architect and are made of very thin sheets of plywood with stick-on details. The instructions say to use "solvent based paints" and to paint both sides of the wood. I only have acrylic based paint. I take it that acrylics will warp the wood. I do have an air-brush. What is the best way to paint these wood parts? Can I use the acrylics? How about spraying with dull coat first and then using the acrylics for a color coat. Do I need to prime the wood?

Thanks for whatever help I can get

Tom.

Model Railroading IS fun... Once you've figured out what you're doing

Tom Mann from CA

Submitted by tommann on Sat, 07/19/2008 - 20:42.

BryanC

Posts: 1396
Joined: 2005-01-26

tommann, please check my

tommann, please check my web site Structures->Kits->Laser Kits - you'll find lots of information!

Basically, you can use any paints you want but, yes, you do need to prime and on both sides! (If you prime on both sides you do not need to paint on both sides). Water based paints are more prone to cause warping but not a biggie. Paint before assembling and if you encounter warping place the pieces under a weight overnight! (I used a box of nails for a pneumatic nailer),

I even mixed the type of paints and often finished off with a coat of Dull Cote, after construction. As I said, check my web site.

Cheers!

Bryan C
Alligator Lines "The Eclectic Line of the South"

http://ALines.home.att.net

Sat, 07/19/2008 - 20:57

aroc

Posts: 312
Joined: 2007-02-17

One thing that water based

One thing that water based paints will do to wood is create a sort of "feathering"effect in which the fiber of the wood actually raises and gives the wood an unwanted texture. The amount this effect has is largely dependant on the type and grade of wood. It might be undetectable for plywood.

Eric

Deer Lodge, MT

--
You are what you think.

Sat, 07/19/2008 - 21:43

absnut

Posts: 626
Joined: 2004-01-12

pre=painting

I like to use Poly S colors on my wood structures but, they will, indeed, frequently warp the wood. So, before I do anything, I spray all the wood parts (keep them in the sheets) with Testors gray primer, both sides. This seals the wood so the water based paint will not "soak in". I haven't tried spraying with dull Coat as the primer but have often considered it. It just might serve the same purpose as the gray primer paint. If you go the Dull Coat route, please let us know the results.

Dick,

Usually, when all is said and done, there's a lot more said than done!

Sat, 07/19/2008 - 22:24

tommann

Posts: 239
Joined: 2005-03-24

BryanC, Eric and

BryanC, Eric and Dick;

Thanks for the info and help. BryanC I enjoyed your pages about building the laser kits, and have a place for several of the ones you built on my layout (if I am sauccesful with the ones I have). I might try dullcoat as the primer and will post my results.

Tom.

Model Railroading IS fun... Once you've figured out what you're doing

Tom Mann from CA

Sun, 07/20/2008 - 11:36

Jimmi

Posts: 827
Joined: 2006-12-18

Dick, I just put a laser

Dick, I just put a laser cut kit together and tried dull coat as a primer. Seems to have worked out well since I painted it with Testors acrylics and had no warpage at all.

The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you've got it made. Jean Giraudoux

Jim

Sun, 07/20/2008 - 23:32

Painting wood kits - need info and help.

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