I have many Walthers Cornerstone buildings I am painting now and what is the best way to paint the doors and windows with that professional look as in the catalog photos? Since they are one piece its not that easy.
Many of the AHM buildings I have are better in my opinion because the windows and doors are separate from the building and are easier to paint and then insert.
What are your methods for this?
Thanks,
Mark
I use a tooth pick, but I’m not very good at it.
I have seen people spray paint the window areas first. Then mask them off and paint the rest of the building. I use a very fine pointed tip brush. It takes some time but turns out fairly well.
Tom
I paint the doors and windows first, mask off the rest, leaving the doors and windows exposed and then coat them with a light coat of vasoiline. I remove the mask, paint the rest of the building, and when it’s dry, I remove the vasoline. Works like a charm.
IF you are talking about cast on windows, the way I do it is this… First clean and prime the entire wall section (all painting is done before assembly)… I use spray can rustoleum type primer for this step… Dries hard and gives a nice surface to paint (doesn’t fill the brick lines either)… Then, once the primer is dry, spray the window areas (either a spray can or an airbrush) with the desired window frame color . Once That dries, use a flat, 1/2" wide or 3/8" wide flat paint bru***o put on the final exterior color… Things like concrete window sills, ornate mouldings, etc are painted last, and usually just the outer edges with the Side of a fine brush… When ALL of that is done, hit it with a wash (if brick) of white or grey to fill Some of the mortar joints… THEN hit it with the details and weathering (signs etc)…
It isn’t a great picture but this building (Magnuson brewery) was painted in that way…(56k image) and it has about 10 coats of spray and floquil solvent based paint on it. (had to do it twice, Lesson, don’t learn this on an expensive building [:-^] )
[image]http://www.rolleiman.com/trains/brewery1.jpg[/image]
I’ll be doing a few this weekend so I’ll snap some photos and put a demo up on my website… Stay tuned…
If you are talking about Seperate windows, the answer should be obvious… Paint them before the building is assembled.
Jeff
[8D]
Mark,
I have a fairly steady hand so I paint the majority of the door or window with a larger modeling brush, then trim it out with a smaller one. (Sorry, I wish I could give you specific sizes.) I also paint the windows first, then glue the mylar windows in afterward.
A couple of other important items to mention. A good task light is a MUST for achieving a good paint or gluing job. And…don’t forget the magnifying visors. They are worth their weight in gold. [^]
Tom
Use an airbrush or spray can to paint the largest surfaces of the building with the most predominant colour. And do it after the building is assembled: it helps to hide the filler used on seams, and glue smears or whatever other mishaps occur while you’re putting it together. If the building is mostly brick, spray it your favourite shade of brick colour; if it’s clapboard, pick your colour. When this is dry, use a suitably-sized bruo paint the window frames, doors and details. Use a wider bruo apply weathering, either washes of thinned colour or dustings of chalk. Apply the window “glass” and then finish weathering with a light overspray of a well-thinned suitable colour.
Wayne
I just painted a bunch of windows, that were inset in a building, with a fine tipped brush and floquil paint. If you do it this way it helps if the paint is of high quality as it will spread evenly. It also helps if the paint is not heavy and thick. Thin is good.
Regarless of ones ability its still a tedious and labourious task!
Jeff: Excellent job on the Brewery!
Fergie
Hmm, I checked this topic hoping to find a painting solution to a recent Walthers phemomon - exemplified by the Walthers “All Needs Insurance Agency” Gold Ribbon building kit which I purchased early this year, the Window and door frames come already glued to the ‘glass’ (clear plastic), and basically don’t come apart without damage. Now, the window frames could definitely stand some painting and weathering - but masking out all the glass window panes to prevent overspray/errant brush strokes would be beyond a nightmare (masking a few vehicle windows on a williams brothers Ford Explorer model is a PITA as it is, image the situation 20x ).
BTW, for the molded in wall window situation (without pre-attached glass) I generally spray the whole building in primer first, then spray the window and doors to their final color, when quite dry mask off with blue masking tape (my favorite) using a straight edge, a sharp knife, and tweezers for positioning (since almost all windows/doors tend to be rectangular this is usually straightforward if a bit ‘fiddly’, and you can always make templates/masks for round windows and transomes), and then spray (or brush paint) the building the final color. Well, yes, if lintels, sills etc are involved then brush painting comes into play, although there are ways to mask and spray here too.
I use both methods, depending on my mood, and colors I’m using.
If the building is brick, and the window color matches the mortor color, I spray the whole building with the window/mortor color, and drybru***he brick color on.
Ususally, though, I’m not too big on masking, so I paint the walls, add any mortor coloring, and hand paint the doors and windows last.
Nick
![http://www.rolleiman.com/trains/brewery1.jpg[/image]](http://www.rolleiman.com/trains/brewery1.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}