Easy
With just a few craft supplies, you can add weathering details to any scale of structure.
Take your structure from good to great with these quick tips
Cody Grivno photo
By Rene Schweitzer Sometimes structure kits just beg to be weathered. This PIKO America kit (#62104, Dr. Reynolds Country Home) was one of them. While it looked fine out of the box, I used a few basic craft supplies to take my structure to the next level. These techniques can be used for plastic structures in any scale. The only difference will be the size of the applicator.
Acrylic paint Small squeeze bottles of acrylic
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paints are found in both craft and big-box stores, come in a wide variety of colors, and are inexpensive. I applied a wash on the foundation and chimney pieces before assembly. I used Americana Graphite paint and added water to make a thin wash, but any dark gray or black color would work. Use a brush to apply the wash over the entire piece, making sure it seeps into the crevices. 1 If you apply too much, simply blot the piece with a
paper towel or rag to remove excess wash. If you are unhappy with the results, rinse under tap water, let dry, and try again. You’ll note that some plastics may react differently to acrylic paint. The foundation piece (top of photo 1) was covered in the Graphite wash, but turned an off-white and gray once it dried. I was pleased with this result because it reminded me of aging bricks and mortar. If you’re unhappy with
your results, either paint over it or try a different color wash.
PanPastel PanPastel are artist-quality pigments that apply almost like paint (but are dry, like chalks).
Since they are concentrated, you get better coverage with one application. For this project, I used the Greys, Grimes, and Soot Weathering Colors Set (no. 84209, Kalmbachhobbystore. com).
APPLY WASH WITH PAINTBRUSH UNPAINTED CHIMNEY PIECES
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