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I'm building my first Branchline Laser Art model, the Finley House. The four core pieces are glued and the siding is installed. Next step is to paint. This will be my first time painting on basswood, so, should I use a primer, like Gesso, then paint with acrylic (I'm using Apple Barrel paint)? Or, should I just use a couple coats of acrylic? I don't have an air brush, so will have to do this with a brush. 

 

Suggestions? and thanks...

George (G3)

 

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George...

 

Don't need an airbrush for this situation.  Rattle cans are A-OK.  In fact Art Fahey (Bar Mills) got me hooked on the use of Walmart's cheap blue-label rattle can spray paints.  Their primer (gray) would be your first step.  Less than $2, I believe, per can.

 

BUT...first get yourself an inexpensive pistol-style hair dryer.  (I keep mine 'holstered' on the side of my spray booth!).  The purpose of this is to follow each light coat of the spray paint IMMEDIATELY with a fast dry using the hair dryer.  This will help ensure minimal/no warpage of wood surfaces.  Been using this technique for years...nary a problem to date.

 

In addition to primer gray, I've found the same brand of flat black, flat white rattle cans to be mainstays in my shop.  In fact, I, too, have built the Finley house, and followed the primer coat with a couple light coats of the flat white for the basic exterior siding color. 

 

So, FWIW....

 

KD

 

P.S....

 

Two more thoughts...

 

LOTS of ventilation when using rattle cans....i.e., outdoors or garage preferable, in the absence of a vented booth.

 

An inexpensive lazy susan device (check Walmart, again) helps to maneuver the building for spraying/drying.

 

Last edited by dkdkrd
George, those are good suggestions from kd. I, too, learned to use cheap spray primer (virtually any brand works) from Art. While I do have a hair dryer in the shop, I generally just spray both sides of a basswood wall and when it's dry to the touch, weight it down (heavy books work well) for an hour or so. putting wax paper under and over the walls will minimize paint transfer. this is basically Art's method before using acrylics and you'll always get straight walls. if there's still any curvature you can always add a few pieces of stick bracing on the back.

jerrman

So, George....

 

After our earlier exchange re this structure, I went to the basement to retrieve my rendition for some pics to share.  Imagine my surprise and chagrin to discover that I painted my Finley house green, not white as I mentioned earlier!!  So I says to myself, 'Self!?  Here's another proof-positive that your 70-year old mind ain't what it once was!!'  It was with a rattle can, however...of that I'm quite sure.

 

Anyhoo, I added a few features beyond the kit's provisions: Window screens, gutters & downspouts (cocktail straws), fuel oil tank (GC Laser), flower boxes on the porch railing, screens beneath the porch floor, vent stack on the back wall, and snowbirds on the roof (Tichy).  A couple of rockers, Mom & Pop, and Schmiegel the Beagle to greet the as-yet-non-existant passersby.  As yet it's a house in search of a landing spot....sort of like in the Wizard of Oz?  (Urban development is progressing slowly.)

 

FWIW, always...

 

KD

 

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Last edited by dkdkrd

 You really captured realism in that model. I noticed that you even weathered the building slightly. I mostly color with brush and vinyl latex paint purchased at Walmart, Hobby Lobby and Michaels Crafts. Also use rattle spray cans for large areas and always wear a mask when doing so.  Nice neat job of putting that kit together. Lets see the pics on the layout.

Originally Posted by Lee Willis:

dkddrk has a good point worth paying attention too.  Basswood is less likely to warp in my experience that somer others, but it can.  Make light coats and dry ti quick, or use a completely non-water based paint and glue.

I used a non-water based spray primer, then you can paint it with anything.

No photo yet, but work is progressing. The four walls are done and everything is painted. Most of the windows are in. I used Pewter Grey as the color with white trim and it actually looks dark green. I built a paint booth out of 1/4" fan-fold insulation set up on saw-horses in the garage. Sprayed everything with non-water based paint as Joe recommended and he's right...you can then paint it with anything and I had zero warping. The mask is a must.

 

KD, your Finley House is awesome. I want to try to add a window air-conditioner. I thank you for so many ideas...extremely helpful.

 

The wood that Branchline uses for their trim pieces and windows is pretty awesome. I'd like to find some heavy card stock that has removable-covered sticky on the back. Run it through a laser printer and card stock models would sure save gluing time after cutting. Anybody know where you can get something like that?

 

Again, thanks to all who offered so much advice. 

 

George (G3)

Originally Posted by G3:
I found a package of Avery full-sheet 8.5x11 adhesive paper at Walmart. They make it for design-your-own labels. I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner. It works in an ink jet printer so I'll experiment and see what happens.

George (G3)

Let us know.  It would be superb shortcut if it works well.  It would certainly work well for things like signs you wanted to hang on the sides of buildings and such.

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