Figures

Very nice work Ron.  I love the pants detail.  When I paint small figures I tend to use washes to achieve the same facial effects that you do with weathering powder.

My wife and her artist friends do amazing things with paint. I did a little research and money wise it’s a loser based on time, and as stated by West Side Joe, ceramic alone would lack detail.

@Ron045 posted:

Most of my figures are cheap because, if I had to pay $10 a person, I would have no money for trains.  However there are some scenes which need good detailed people.

I got these from miniprints.com.  2 for $15.60.  You do have to paint them.  Instead of painting faces, I just brushed them with weathering powder.  The powder found all of the nooks and crannies and really brought out the details well.  I also had some tiny Chessie decals so I used those for the vests and hats.

Have Fun!

Ron

WOW!  A new and excellent way to paint faces.  I'll be trying that next week.

How did you get the wrinkles in the clothing.  That is equally worthy of praise, too.

@Forty Rod posted:

How did you get the wrinkles in the clothing.  That is equally worthy of praise, too.

I can't take credit for that.  They came that way.  Here they are unpainted.

Ron

Ha!  I was asking about the shadow affects that you so masterfully achieved, but thanks for the response....and the laugh.

Tom

@Forty Rod posted:

Ha!  I was asking about the shadow affects that you so masterfully achieved, but thanks for the response....and the laugh.

Tom

Oh... That was actually pretty easy.  With the Blue jeans, on two figures I painted them dark blue and then just dry brushed baby blue.  On the other two figures I painted them baby blue and then dry brushed dark blue.  I like that look better.  The wrinkles in the resin figure picked up all of the dry brush paint. 

Really... I'm not an artist by a long shot.  It was simple.

Ron

If I use it and get the same results you did I'll need all the "simple" I can get.

Thanks for the info.

Waiting for the 17 pm "Chief" to arrive...!

@Capetrainman posted:

Waiting for the 17 pm "Chief" to arrive...!

I like it!  It looks like they dropped a cake down on the tracks and are trying to decide who gets to retrieve it! 

George

@Ron045 posted:

Most of my figures are cheap because, if I had to pay $10 a person, I would have no money for trains.  However there are some scenes which need good detailed people.

I got these from miniprints.com.  2 for $15.60.  You do have to paint them.  Instead of painting faces, I just brushed them with weathering powder.  The powder found all of the nooks and crannies and really brought out the details well.  I also had some tiny Chessie decals so I used those for the vests and hats.

Have Fun!

Ron

GEEEEEZ  RON 😨...........these guys really look like they could just about yell at me for being on railroad property  !!!

Really nice technique on coloring these people and the figures are superb .........well worth the purchase along with your artistry.

Great looking figures Ron.  Cost for unpainted is the same as Artista, but nice selection and great artistry.

John

Figures definitely make the scene...a few different brands here...

You sure come up with some great scenes, Paul!

Very interesting pictures and info.

So, what is weathering powder?  If it is a powder, how does it to stick to the unpainted face of the plastic figure?

And, what is "dry-brushing"?

Thanks for any info.

Mannyrock

Hi Manny, I can tell you that dry brushing means puddling some paint, or dipping a brush in paint very little, and then drawing the brush on cardboard until almost all of it is off the brush, and then hitting the high points of the model to draw just that little paint left to highlight the higher points. Try it with some white,  off-white or light gray on a model to try it out. On my Area 51 layout, I dry brushed antique white highlights on the rock carvings, leaving just enough paint to highlight the carvings.

@Mannyrock posted:

Very interesting pictures and info.

So, what is weathering powder?  If it is a powder, how does it to stick to the unpainted face of the plastic figure?

And, what is "dry-brushing"?

Thanks for any info.

Mannyrock

Just what it says.  Colored powder that can be used to weather items.  What is nice about powder is you can brush it on and if you don't like it, take it off.  If you do want it on an item permanently that maybe  you plan on handling where the powder could come off or mess up, then just spray clear coat on the item with the powder on it to seal it in.

By the way the powder was not applied to an unpainted figure.  I painted the figure and let it dry.  Then powdered it.

This hopper car is weathered with powder and clear coated.

I believe your dry brushing question was already answered, so I won't belabor that.

Ron

Thanks for that info guys!

Mannyrock

@Artie-DL&W posted:

Hi Manny, I can tell you that dry brushing means puddling some paint, or dipping a brush in paint very little, and then drawing the brush on cardboard until almost all of it is off the brush, and then hitting the high points of the model to draw just that little paint left to highlight the higher points. Try it with some white,  off-white or light gray on a model to try it out. On my Area 51 layout, I dry brushed antique white highlights on the rock carvings, leaving just enough paint to highlight the carvings.

Artie, great scene...always enjoy the military theme...nice Quonset hut right there too...

Picking up a few things at the local market before closing...just noticed the red light on in the upstairs apartment above the hardware store...hmmm?

Thanks, Paul. The Quonset hut is Lionel, and I think they’re marketing it again.

I like the night scene, but I think the town should put up some more streetlights! That red light sure looks suspicious, and you sure have some good-looking ladies in town!

I saw a few people online grind up artists pastels and chalk to use as weathering powder.  One used an old coffee grinder, the other a mortar and pestle, and still another simply used a sharp knife to shave it off into a container.

Anyone try that?  It would be a lot cheaper with a greater variety of colors.

John

@West Side Joe posted:

A little pricey but different are these figures from an Ebay seller in Belarus.

"A little pricey" at $17/figure + $9 shipping from Russia.   Except Marlene Dietrich is $24!

But if you must have Vladimir Putin on your layout, this is where you will shop.

Bob

That's "Frank Sinatra" standing by the newsstand. 😁

Speaking of the "Chairman of the Board,"  this could be him with his entourage...

A recent figure addition:

Resin figure from Rusty Rail, acrylic paints, then Vallejo Model Wash with a drop of Vallejo Matte Medium, a final overspray of Tamiya Clear Matte, then cemented onto a clear plastic base.

PD

@Capetrainman posted:

Picking up a few things at the local market before closing...just noticed the red light on in the upstairs apartment above the hardware store...hmmm?

Lava lamp?

I don't recall who turned me to the heroclix gamers source but I have gotten a huge amount of great looking figures from it and they only cost 99 cents each and less !!!

@pd posted:

A recent figure addition:

Resin figure from Rusty Rail, acrylic paints, then Vallejo Model Wash with a drop of Vallejo Matte Medium, a final overspray of Tamiya Clear Matte, then cemented onto a clear plastic base.

PD

Nice PD.    A lot more to this guy than what I  do.

I have a need for more elves on the PE and couldn't throw a lot more cash on already made.........soooo..........I had a bunch of these inexpensive figures .

I dabbed Goo Glue on their heads for little funny caps to get organized for painting . I'll have to cut the legs down 🤕😨 to get them a little more elf size though .

Can't believe Christmas is headed our way already 😉

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Nice PD.    A lot more to this guy than what I  do.

I have a need for more elves on the PE and couldn't throw a lot more cash on already made.........soooo..........I had a bunch of these inexpensive figures .

I dabbed Goo Glue on their heads for little funny caps to get organized for painting . I'll have to cut the legs down 🤕😨 to get them a little more elf size though .

Can't believe Christmas is headed our way already 😉

Nice, Dallas...I look forward to a seeing few snaps once they've donned their green/red outfits! I haven't tried much in the way of figure-conversion, but something to consider.

PD

A chase through the railyard...

@Capetrainman posted:

A chase through the railyard...

Great scene Paul.

Perfect side lighting and exposure.   Cool story. 

Starting to look like Paul and Partrick are getting together to put a book out eventually.  !? 🤓

@Capetrainman posted:

Speaking of the "Chairman of the Board,"  this could be him with his entourage...

CapeTrain, is the cream yellow car lower left a Triumph TR6? At that angle I can’t tell for sure!

Western, yes it is...a 1970.  Brand is Atlas Novo...bought it from a seller in UK.  Looked around for a TR...the nicest one for me was British racing green and made of composite, but out of my price range...

@Capetrainman posted:

Western, yes it is...a 1970.  Brand is Atlas Novo...bought it from a seller in UK.  Looked around for a TR...the nicest one for me was British racing green and made of composite, but out of my price range...

Nice, cool car! I have no British cars on my layout, but I’m looking for a ‘53 MG TD because my Dad had one. British sports cars are iconic classics. I really enjoy your scenes, lots to look at!

Western, in my search for a 1/43 Triumph, seems I had come across a '53 MB on the net...I don't recall where...

Growing up, our next door neighbor had a '53 MG TD, black with red interior.  As a young kid, I was impressed by the canvas cover he had over the spare tire on the back of the car....the white cover had the American and Union Jack flag proudly showing.  Jerry had earned enough money on his paper route to buy the car when he turned sixteen.  I still remember riding with him a couple of times, as he'd speed shift going around corners.  One time he clipped a curbing and from that time on I stuck with the nickname "Curbstone" with his last name....

Also got some crime fighters!!

To WesternPacific2217 and Capetrainman,

I had several MG's on my layout but they are boxed up right now. I currently drive a 1948 MGTC (my third one) and my nod to the marque was to have an MG Factory.  It featured a bunch of painted pencil sharpers (close to a TD), several MatchBox Models of Yesteryear and Vitesse (TC's), and a Corgi MGTF.  A few, possibly not shown in the photos are from the early 50's, probably Dinky.  Bottom line, I would gladly give each of you one of the pencil sharpener TD's, check the photo and let me know if you want one.  I'd ask that you pay for the shipping, the car is free to you.  If interested, please reply to my email (in the profile).   The MG motto....'Safety Fast", v/r Chuck

@Chuck242 posted:

To WesternPacific2217 and Capetrainman,

I had several MG's on my layout but they are boxed up right now. I currently drive a 1948 MGTC (my third one) and my nod to the marque was to have an MG Factory.  It featured a bunch of painted pencil sharpers (close to a TD), several MatchBox Models of Yesteryear and Vitesse (TC's), and a Corgi MGTF.  A few, possibly not shown in the photos are from the early 50's, probably Dinky.  Bottom line, I would gladly give each of you one of the pencil sharpener TD's, check the photo and let me know if you want one.  I'd ask that you pay for the shipping, the car is free to you.  If interested, please reply to my email (in the profile).   The MG motto....'Safety Fast", v/r Chuck

Chuck, MG heaven! LoL what a great collection. Thanks for sharing, I'll be in touch.

Scott

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Chuck, MG heaven! LoL what a great collection. Thanks for sharing, I'll be in touch.

Scott

I'd like one, any color, top up or down.

Also looking for a 1960 MGA roadster f any can be had.

Thanks.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Nice PD.    A lot more to this guy than what I  do.

I have a need for more elves on the PE and couldn't throw a lot more cash on already made.........soooo..........I had a bunch of these inexpensive figures .

I dabbed Goo Glue on their heads for little funny caps to get organized for painting . I'll have to cut the legs down 🤕😨 to get them a little more elf size though .

Can't believe Christmas is headed our way already 😉

Here's  50  elves  pd .

I'm not sure how many I need.   Judy is making the Santa Building for the PE  and still undecided how many would be appropriate.

We had posted some photos over the last couple of years of houses , churches , ski lodge and general store that she has done out of yarn on the Christmas layout.

I think on the MTH flat car there are about 25 or so and some on the layout Christmas tree annd the lighted hot air balloon  . I  also added a few more on the Lionel hand truck.    ......

........WARNING.....

......IF YOU DON'T HEAR THE RINGING OF THE CHRISTMAS  BELLS.......THEN THESE FIGURES WILL NOT APPEAR REALISTIC TO YOU.