The Painting of Doors

MrDNA

Posts: 14
Joined: 2008-09-23

Location(s)

Warrington, xx, 18976

United States

Hello all!

I am returned to N-scale after a 15 year absence and I didn't have any idea what I was doing then, so boy oh boy do I have questions! Right now I am working on my first real kit (DPM Gripp's Luggage Co.). I got myself a Badger 200 airbrush and, IMO did a durn nice job painting the bricks and doing the mortar. Now the only thing between me and gluing this bad boy together is... *DRAMATIC MUSIC*

THE DOORS

I figure Mr. Airbrush is out, unless I want half the darn building to get green as well (the color I chose), so I've been trying to handpaint. I wouldn't say it looks awful, but it's close. I've got really obvious brush-strokes and uneven covering. I've been using some of my girlfriends fancy-ish pants artist arcylics in various stages of watered-down-ness. Any suggestions as to what I should be doing? I've heard dry brushing preserves detail, but, well... I'm not exactly sure what that IS. Any help you can give an old-newby is appreciated.

Submitted by MrDNA on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 21:07.

jhendy29

Posts: 10
Joined: 2008-08-20

In the same boat.

I am painting my first project, the cafe. I do not have all the airbrush equiptment yet so I am handpainting. First coat is awful, second better and third looks great. depending on how paint is thinned is how the detail looks even in full scale or life-size :). Will try and post some pictures soon.

Wed, 09/24/2008 - 00:37

taz-n-rr

Posts: 413
Joined: 2006-04-28

Masking tape may help where

Masking tape may help where you cannot paint the parts before they are glued together. I believe I saw a tip once about taping and giving a coat of clear or the base color masked over to seal the edge of the tape, then the target color, then remove the tape. Or something like that...
Charles

Wed, 09/24/2008 - 12:15

corsair7

Posts: 125
Joined: 2008-06-19

Masking tape

You are correct. Blue painters tape serves the same function in modeling as it does in the real world.

Irv

--
Irv

Wed, 09/24/2008 - 14:50

MrDNA

Posts: 14
Joined: 2008-09-23

jhendy, you make me feel a

jhendy, you make me feel a little more confident. Maybe I'll throw another coat on tonight.

As for masking around the doors and airbrushing.... eep, it makes me nervous. I just can't see painters tape sticking to all those details. Next kit, I am definitely looking for one with doors and windows SEPARATE.

Thanks for the tips, folks!

Wed, 09/24/2008 - 16:55

MooseID

Posts: 818
Joined: 2006-11-05

There is a new tape on the market.

It is called FROG tape.

I have used it during a recent remodeling of my daughter's bedroom.

It beats any masking tape I have ever tried.

I found it at one of the 'big box' home improvement stores.

Have fun.

Moose

Wed, 09/24/2008 - 22:32

MrDNA

Posts: 14
Joined: 2008-09-23

I like the sound of FROG

I like the sound of FROG TAPE. I also like the sound of individual windows and doors I can spray and glue in later. BUT I love the DPM kits, so no dice on that. My handpainting DOES look better on the third coat, and the brush strokes are small enough to pass for wood grain. Still, I'm gonna get me some of that FROG TAPE ;)

Thu, 09/25/2008 - 20:56

ranulf

Posts: 511
Joined: 2005-05-29

May I recommend you not be

May I recommend you not be overly critical of your own work? While it is true that it is the details make a scene realistic, this really is a big picture endeavor. A miss with the brush or a few brush strokes are not going to be noticed by anyone else.

"Do Not Hump!?!?! Does that mean what I think it means!?"

I only posted for the points.

Sat, 09/27/2008 - 04:01

BryanC

Posts: 1481
Joined: 2005-01-26

Good advice, ranulf!The

Good advice, ranulf!

The "obvious" blemishes that stick out like a sore thumb when a piece is viewed individually, almost always simply disappear when the piece becomes a part of the "whole"

Cheers!

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

http://ALines.home.att.net

Sat, 09/27/2008 - 09:20

eldecker

Posts: 79
Joined: 2007-03-02

eye level

also, I bet you have been judging your painting skills at a distance of say,....6" from your eyeball perhaps?. On a layout, from standard distances, it is probably looking just fine.

--
To invent something, all you need is a good imagination,....and a pile of junk. (T.A. Edison)

Sat, 09/27/2008 - 11:21

Jimmi

Posts: 861
Joined: 2006-12-18

Also take a look at

Also take a look at prototype factory buildings. You'll find a lot of brush marks, misses, scrapes and scratches on the real thing!

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

Jim

Sun, 09/28/2008 - 23:09

The Painting of Doors

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