MODEL RAILROAD

Construction Tips

Although many modelers prefer to paint a building after it’s assembled; a neater job will result if the model is prepared in sub-assemblies. The parts may be spray painted while still on the sheets, or brush painted using several thin coats of Acrylic paint. If the parts warp, place them between wax paper or plastic sheets when dry, weight them down with heavy books or other weights, and leave overnight. You should be able to start the sub-assemblies the next day. Carefully cut the parts from the sheets using a model knife; do not “snap” them off, as this may result in breakage. Glue the window and door parts to the walls per the instructions. Once the sub-assemblies are prepared, the construction of the structure can begin. Be sure to read through the instructions first and test position parts before gluing.

If you plan to use heavy weathering on your model, you may want to use some scrap stripwood to brace the wall sections. This will help minimize warping and will make final assembly easier and more accurate. Glue the strips of bracing to the inside of the walls, making sure the bracing does not extend below the lower edge of the walls.

You may wish to weather your finished structure by using products such as Micro-Mark® “Age-it EASY” or “Weathering Pastels”. The structure should be painted before applying the weathering; if using the liquid, you should apply it sparingly.

Dry-brushing is as essential to model building as the products above. To dry-brush you simply dip a brush in some paint, wipe the brush almost dry with a cloth or paper towel, and apply the remaining paint to your model’s surface. In the case of clapboard, the paint should be applied horizontally. Putting on the paint in small amounts makes it easy to control. Paint would be more worn around ground level, and be in better condition on other parts of the building. Experiment on some scrap before painting your surfaces.