I admire Selector’s work in this pic of his. I have woodland scenics wide portal for two tracks, and need advice on what colors to use. Do I spray paint the portal? I still have it fresh out of the package, still white and untouched.
I also like Dave Vollmers’ work on his mountains. Could someone with experience provide me a step by step guide on how to conscruct them and paint them as well. What materials do I need to buy and how do I apply them? How long does the process typically take, is there an extensive drying period when using molds and cloths? I love Dave’s work, but I’m not sure about the steps involved and how long the whole project takes.
Where are rock castings ideally used, and is the foam cut with the woodland scenics tool, or simply carved out with a razor (very messy). At what stage is the foam forming the mountain painted black? ( I will by happy just to get to this stage, I will worry about foliage and trees after painting is completed.
I use black paint diluted severely into a wash, around 6 to 1, and dab it on with a foam brush so that it runs into and puddles in the cracks.
If you model steam and want to darken the smoke area, just use a much stronger mix in that area.
In this image, the portal is done the same way as with all my stone portals.
I mix craft acrylic paints, the kind you get at Wally’s crafts section. I mix maybe five parts medium grey to one part burnt umber, and I add maybe a half drop of yellow. I dilute this two parts water to the paint mixed, and then apply it thoroghly over the exposed surfaces of the portal. Once it is dry, and I give it a couple of hours to be sure, I mount it in place and let the glues set. I then scenic around it before I smoke it up.
Before I smoke it up, I use a black wash, I would call it a medium heavy wash with one part black paint to 10 parts water. I either brush it on liberally, or I’ll spray it. The idea is to cover all the exposed surfaces so that the paint settles in the grooves to create more shadowing and relief. This may have to be applied two or three times, and each time the application must be allowed to dry thoroughly…! Take your time with this!
The smoke is simply plain black acrylic craft paint. I usually like the results whenever I use any of the craft paints when they are diluted at least two to one in favour of the water. Also, I make sure the brush is mostly dry for the smoke. Blacken the inner face of the actual portal, and then fan out the black from narrower at the apex of the portal to wider further up. Don’t forget to blacken the exposed branches of shrubs or trees above or any outcroppings of rock.
-Crandell
Thanks guys, and thanks crandell for taking the time to explain your beautiful work in depth!
rj -
Here’s another method, if you’re like me and don’t want to do more work than necessary.
These are N scale WS single portals and retaining wall as a WIP.
-
Spray (air brush) base color, I used dark ghost gray acryl , IIRC
-
To show the accumulation of dirt near the base and lessening on the way up, air brush your “dirt” color, I just used a flat black, shooting at an angle from below. This feathers the “dirt” and since it can’t get into the mortar lines, it gives the illusion of mortar without any extra work,
Since my layout will always be viewed from above or level, the illusion works.
- The same can be done to simulate old steam residue.
It’s all about the illusion.
Archer