I am just finishing up detailing several Cornerstone (now Atlas) building flats. I will do a little weathering and then install on my layout. Some of the detailing includes mortar wash, painted window sills, tar paper roofs, smoke stacks, overhangs over loading docks, and dock lights. The photos are next to an out-of-the-box model for comparison. I will send more pictures once I have them installing on my layout.
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Well done!
Peter
Nice work!
What drives me nuts is the lack of affordable kits to make flats representing wood buildings.
I model a very rural area, where you'd never see multi-story brick or masonry buildings. I just wish someone would make kits you could make flats out of for a wood structure.
I've had to buy a huge box of Grandt Line door and window castings and will need to scratchbuild the long 2-story wood industry I need for my layout when I have time to get to that project...
Matthew, Your mortar lines are extra clean looking. How do you avoid the white build-up in the corners and blotches so often seen when adding mortar wash? What wash and method do you use to give that crisp look?
Paul Goodness
I know thoe buildings well. You guys did a terrific job on those flats! Mine still look like the "before" pictures. Looks like I've got some new projects to work on. Thanks for sharing.
Ed Kazarian
You fellas' ability to "see" a perspective is akin to the skilled photographer or artist; terrific craftsmanship. Thanks for sharing.
Paul,
On this building I used a wash made of 10-20% gray paint (Polly Scale D&H Gray) and 80-90% Isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol keeps the wash thin and makes it flow into the mortar lines. But because it is alcohol it also dries very quickly, so you can't let it sit too long or it will dry on the brick face and be impossible to remove (leaving blotches). After I apply with a brush, I let it sit for just a few seconds and then wipe off using paper towels, especially working on the corners to avoid the buildup you mention. The trick is wiping hard enough to remove the excess from the brick face, but not too hard to rub it out of the mortar lines.
Good job Matthew!
Like the details in the dock!
Andre.
Matthew, Thank you for the information. Your detail work is inspirational. Very neat and clean looking. Love it.
Paul Goodness
Matt, Where did you get the smokestacks that you used in the photos??
billhowell75,
The smokestacks are from a Korber kit that I did not yet build.
They are black plastic, but I rusted them using a rust antiquing kit made by Sophisticated Finishes, used for crafts. You can get this at a craft store like A.C. Moore. The stuff is great. It has two parts. You paint on the iron metallic surfacer and after it dries brush on the rust antiquing solution. You can vary the amount of rust by how much of each you apply. The kit is pricey at about $12, but A.C. Moore always runs a 50% off one item coupon each week, so you can get it for around $6.
Thanks Matt.
Matt
Nice job, but where are the peeps?? Scenic accents has a nice grouping loading dock workers that would really seal the deal here. Here is an internet picture of the kit I am referring to, which usually goes for about $22
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