Paint Question

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

First part of my question is on painting straws used to represent pipe loads. Do you use a primer paint? What type of paint seems to stick the best?

Second, I have stripped some coating off #12 stranded wire and spread the strands for a tree branches. What type of paint is best for the trunk, the coated part of the wire?

Also have some stranded copper ground wire that I am thinking of using for larger trees. Was going to try some type of joint compound to cover the wire for the trunk of the tree. Any special treatment for the wire prior to applying the compound or painting? Paint type for copper?

Thank you for your time and your answers.

Have fun, that’s what this hobby is suppose to be all about.

2

If the straws are plastic, I use Model Master spray cans.

No special treatment for the wire and paint for metal.

3

You mentioned using joint compound to form a trunk. That’s plaster and it will dry hard and might crack with handling the tree. That said, give it a try anyway. Nothing ventured, nothing lost. Any kind of paint will cover plaster. I have seen Durham’s Water Putty recommended for making tree trunks and even people. I’ve never used it though, so I don’t know what it’s like to work with.

4

I used clear Silicone RTV Sealant, applied with a tooth pick on this welding cable tree. DJ.

5

Thank you for the responses.

I was going to try the Lightweight Spackling Compound, as it is suppose to be more flexible. My local hardware store does have the Water Putty, so I will try that too. Seeing that the RTV worked so well makes me wonder how the latex caulk being used for so many other things would work. Will try several things and try to remember to let you know how they worked. Looks like if all else fails I should get some RTV and go to it.

Thanks again,

6

Grampy, how do you get anything to stick to silicone sealant? Do you prime it?

I like gloss acrylic black paint for making pipe loads out of coffee-stirrer straws. As I recall, the pipes in the 50s and early 60s, which I model, were painted with a glossy black enamel.

Durhams Water Putty sets very hard and solid. I mix mine with a bit of vinegar to slow the setting process. But, I’ve only used it for roads, never trees. Thinking about it, though, it would probably work pretty well. Its natural color is a light tan, and it takes acrylic washes extremely well.

7

Mr. B., I use PolyScale, brushed on. DJ.