Painting Guide

Careful painting is the key to transforming the one piece casting into a delightful addition to your model railway. With a little practice and patience the average modeller will soon enjoy adding his own personal touches. The selection of huts available, for example, can in a short time be finished in the colour scheme appropriate to the individual’s chosen setting and weathered to the required standard of repair. Further tips for painting individual casting are also contained beside the individual product descriptions.

STONECAST PLASTER CASTINGS
Prior to painting, remove any minor blemishes from the casting. Although all castings are checked prior to dispatch, due to the hand pouring process slight flash or “bubbling” may occur. Care should obviously be taken when handling the castings, particularly with small delicate items. Where items are to be assembled (such as retaining walls), it may often be easier to paint the individual components prior to assembly, checking for fit first. The castings can be installed in the chosen position on the layout using P.V.A. glue.

Most of the smaller castings can be easily painted in a few minutes, while larger items such as a coaling stage or lineside hut could take a couple of hours. Due to the porous nature of the castings drying time is greatly reduced compared to other mediums, and can be further accelerated by placing the castings on a radiator. The paint will be dry in a few minutes, enabling the enjoyable task of painting to continue. We also supply Pro-Arte paintbrushes which are ideal for most modelling tasks including painting our various items.

Painting can be carried out using enamels or acrylics, although we recommend the use of wood dye for items such as crates, planks, etc. Thin the paint, but ensure good colour coverage is still obtained. Test by painting the unseen flat surface of the casting if required. Due to the colour wash technique now used by Ten Commandments, the risk of white plaster showing through any ‘missed’ areas on the finished item is greatly reduced. Plaster castings are receptive to most painting techniques and different methods may be used depending on the application; for example painting a rake of coal loads may be easily and quickly achieved using an areosol spray paint.

WAGON LOADS
Loads for open wagons should obviously be checked for fit prior to painting, as different wagons may vary slightly. Loads can be raised to the reuired height by mounting on a block of balsa, cardboard etc. After painting base colours normal modelling techniques such as dry brushing can be used to highlight detail further as required. Use of a very this water based wash in an appropriate shade over the enamel on “wooden” items such as crates or planks can also help to highlight detail. Coal loads can be made to seemingly catch the light by careful brushing in one direction only with gloss varnish over matt black.

BUILDINGS
For stone or brickwork, first use a base coat of enamel to cover the entire surface area before picking out individual stones or bricks in suitable complementary or contrasting shades.

Once the stonework itself is completed and dried, pointing can be added by first wetting the casting with water containing a spot of washing up liquid. This will settle in the gap between the stones. Cover the casting with a thin wash of water based paint in an appropriate shade of grey which is then washed off the surface using a clean brush and more water, leaving the grey paint between the stones or bricks to represent pointing. Some of the paint will remain in the fine detail on the surface of the stones highlighting the texture and providing a realistically weathered appearance. The darker and heavier the application of the grey water wash, the more weathered the final appearance will be. It may be necessary to repeat the process on some areas for an even finish.

Alternatively, the face surfaces of the stones can be painted individually in enamels, leaving the “cement” free to absorb the subsequent water wash. Although this method of painting will take slightly longer, some modellers may prefer to try it.

When painting planking on items such as huts or coal staithes, varying the colour slightly over the area of the casting will result in a more realistic finished appearance than using a single paint colour over the entire surface. Again, use of a water based wash over the enamel base colours can be particularly effective. Careful application of paint at this stage will lead to an excellent representation of weathered woodwork on the finished model.

After completing the main surfaces and adding pointing using the water wash technique, details such as doors and windows can be painted using a fine brush. The solid cast windows will provide a realistic appearance by simply painting the “glass” black (or blue) then adding a coat of gloss varnish which will effectively simulate daylight reflecting off a window. Window frames and other details can then be picked out in the appropriate colours, resulting in a good representation of a window when seen at normal viewing distances.

ACCESSORIES
The illuminated buffer stop should obviously be painted prior to installation on the layout. A small hole should be drilled in the baseboard, the casting glued in place and the two trailing wires connected to a suitable 12V DC supply. Several units may be wired together to a single power source if required. As the unit will only function ‘one way round’, should the LED fail to light, reverse the wires as a first step. The buffer stop can also operate from a battery if preferred. All units are tested prior to dispatch.

RESIN CASTINGS
Castings should be cleaned and any flash removed prior to assembly. Painting can be carried out using enamel or acrylic paints. A suitble primer coat should be applied prior to painting. Always wash your hands after handling resin castings.

WHITE METAL KITS
We recommend a good quality super glue for assembly. Castings should be cleaned and any flash removed prior to assembly. Painting can be carried out using enamel or acrylic paints. A suitble primer coat should be applied prior to painting. Always wash your hands after handling whitemetal castings.

ETCHED BRASS KITS
Once again we would recommend a recommend a good quality super glue for assembly, although soldering is an option for those modeller comfortable with that method. Etches should be cleaned and any flash removed prior to assembly. Assembled parts should be allowed to set properly prior to proceeding with further assembly. Some patience is required. Beware of sharp edges on the etch. Painting can be carried out using enamel or acrylic paints. A suitable primer coat should be applied prior to painting.

PRINTED SIGNAGE
Printed signs should be cut from the sheet with a sharp craft knife. Colour cut edge with a black felt tip pen and glue sign in place using a suitable adhesive. Where signs are to be applied to a textured surface ( such as rough stonework ) it will be beneficial to stick the signage sheet to another piece of card ( the packaging sheet is ideal for this ) to make it double thickness before cutting out and positioning.

PAINTING / KIT ASSEMBLY SERVICE
While we are now producing some ready built & painted items most items are supplied for the modeller to finish themselves. We do offer a painting service for those who prefer not to do this themselves. These items are individually hand painted and finished to order to your specifications by experienced modellers. Please call us on 01383-410032 to discuss your requirements / get a quotation.