How to make a plastic Structure look better?

Hit them with a wash of concrete color to the color the masonry lines and wipe the paint off the bricks. This will  A) make it look like a real brick wall and B) dull the plastic sheen

I paint them with Floquil paint. If you can use a spray can you should be able to use an airbrush. I disassemble them as much as possible, the reassemble adding interior details. Its fun if you like to do this but the reality is if you add all the detail that comes with Woodland Scenic built ups it will end up costing you as much or more. I made mine before Woodland Scenics offered their buildings.

MTH Building

Walthers Building (now Atlas) on left, Lionel building center and right.

I use window glazing compound for the motor after painting.

Pete

Agree with the mortar treatment - takes the cheap plastic look and makes it look like a real building. I've used white latex paint and wipe-off method, but then found Robert's Brick Mortar - much easier, similar process albeit it costs more than paint alone.

Thanks but some of the buildings have grey brick which looks terrible, what is a good brick colored paint?

Rust-Oleum Flat Red Automotive Primer was recommended to me followed by Robert's Brick Mortar.

Mike

I have tried my hand at air brushing and I stink at it. Any help would be appreciated.

Practice, practice and when you think you're getting good practice some more. I first picked up a Binks Wren in the 80's and practiced on a primed automobile hood until I thought i was OK with it. Never picked up an airbrush again until last year and sometimes it's like I never used one before. I learned with Dupont laquer which I think is easier than trying to use acrylics but then I'm out of practice.

joe

Joe, FWIW I was using a spray gun in my Dad's garage back in the fifties and an airbrush since the '70s and I still can't spray acrylics. I have tried a couple of brands and they just clog up on me. I stick to solvent paints.

Pete

If you pain the building first you'll want to do the mortar treatment with a different type of paint so paint the building with an oil based paint and do the mortar with an acrylic or vice versa otherwise when you go to wipe off the mortar paint you'll wipe off the brick color and have a huge ugly mess

Doing it the way the masters described above will certainly yield fantastic results.  I'm not as skilled in those areas so I did it this way... It was inexpensive too.

I took it all apart and used lightweight spakle on the mortar lines.  The spakle not only fills the lines but leaves a look of old weathered brick.  I only painted the dental molding and the steps.

For the weathered roof I used cheap sample grey and black latex paint from Home Depot heavily watered down.  Got it looking really ugly.  Then I dry brushed the roof.  Did the same for the platform but used browns.  Then I re-assembled.

Have Fun! Ron

That looks excellent, Ron. 

Sorry for getting back you all so late but thanks for the help this is definitely what I needed. As Columbo would say "just one more thing" Is there a good acrylic paint that resembles wood?

Model Master  #4673 Wood

Thank you very much.

You can do a lot with model paints.  Plastic MTH water tower.