Bar Mills Buildings and Airbrush?

Invest in the airbrush... I paint very little without one.

Rusty

I have six or seven Bar Mills kits on my layout. I did them all with rattle cans. No disrespect to Rusty, but airbrushing, like anything else, is a skill and some folks (me) don't have the time or patience for it.

I assume there is a certain amount of time involved in preparing to, and cleaning up after, using an airbrush.

I pick up a rattle can, give it a shake, paint, put the cap on, and it's done.

What kit are you building. I can probably lend you a few pointers.

General pointers:

The instructions tell you to use Wal Mart Color Place Primer - $1.07 per can. Use it - it works.

Before painting wall sections, use interior bracing running vertically. It will keep the light weight walls from warping when you apply paint.

Paint both sides of the walls. The paint wants warp the walls. Painting both sides making the warping factor work against itself.

Many of the pieces in Bar Mills kits - notably the windows - are peel-n-stick.

Read the instruction carefully before proceeding.

Judge for yourself whether or not the roofing materials are worthwhile. I have found the roofing materials to be woeful on Bar Mills kits. You can easily make your roof from Grandt Line shingles or masking tape spray painted flat black with some misted coats of browns, grays and greens to get a nice effect. The Bar Mills kits I have built with adequate roofing materials are Shipyard Brewing and Wicked Wandas.

These kits are nice. They are not difficult to build, but also not easy. Take your time, read the instructions and dive in.

You can get great results with an airbrush. Is it necessary for a Bar Mills Kit? The answer is no. I have an airbrush but seldom use it. These days I much prefer spray cans (Rustoleum and Krylon). There's no clean up and I get excellent results.

John--I have seen many pics of Harry's work - it is excellent! My recommendation would be to follow any advice he gives on the subject

--Greg

Harry,
Thank you. I have purchased the beginner "shack assortment" and the "Senuas?". I want to begin with the shack assortment. What tools do you recommend I have or purchase from Micro Mark prior to assembly?
Have a great day fellows...
John

quote:

Originally posted by johnshorse:
"Senuas?"

Do you mean "Saulenas Tavern?"

I strongly recommend you start with the shack pack. Get a feel for the way things go together.

You will need not much. An exacto knife, whatever paint you want to use, a Zona saw (fine tooth saw) is probably a good idea, a cutting surface, some sandpaper, some CA Glue as well as elmers white glue and you're probably good to go.

Saulenas Tavern is a tough build because the instructions are uncharacteristically bad. It's an older kit and they never got around to updating them. I have 100 or so photos of building that kit step by step, but even with that, it takes a lot of description.

I would put that one to the side and do a few of these kits before tackling that one. That's from experience. If you start with it, you'll likely get frustrated, Work your way up to it.

Wicked Wanda's is a nice intermediate kit, as is Busters Barber shop and Earl's Oil. I've done all three and they bring different skills to the build. Get a few of those under your belt and you're ready for Saulenas Tavern.

Here is the beginning of a step-by-step guide to building Saulena's Tavern --- >>> Saulena's Tavern Step-By-Step