I bought this MTH ticket office. I usually do not weather my structures, but this one is a little too bright and garish. I would like to dull it a bit and maybe give it some light weathering. I would welcome suggestions as how to do it cheaply & fast. 
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Thin black acrylic paint with alcohol until it’s runny, brush on in sections let it sit a few seconds and wipe it off. It’ll get into all the details and dial the brightness back quite a bit. You can finish the brick mortar first (same process but use white or light grey paint).
If you want to remove more of the paint after it dries, just out straight alcohol on a rag and wipe some more.
Aways wipe down from the top. Sideways or circular streaks aren’t too realistic.
In addition to the black wash, you can also get good (and inexpensive) results by dry brushing chalk dust.
May be start with a latex grey, diluted to the thickness of milk. as a brick/mortar wash. Grimmy black over spray also good.
These OGR buildings were kits, each wall was done on a flat surface before assembly.
If you can't remove the windows, I'd cover them with some masking tape, then dullcote or matte spray the whole building. Will remove the shine. Then you can repaint easily or at least weather with diluted acrylic or, my preference, with an alcohol/india ink mix. As mentioned above, you'll get into the nooks and crannies to give the building depth and highlight the details. I'd also use some Roberts Mortar (or other mortar tricks) to add mortar to the brickwork. I like Roberts as you can leave it on as long as you want after drying, then use a damp cloth to wipe off the surface residue (it will still leave some which gives it a dusty, old look). You can wash it down multiple times until you get the look you want. If you want to tone it down more after the mortar, use a very light version of the A/I mix on top of the Roberts. Add some billboards, window signs, roof details, etc. and you'd be hard pressed to recognize it.
Initially I used the india ink/alcohol solution to grain/weather wood structures, one day I tried this solution on plastic structures and it weathered the base color and surface grained a plastic texture floor. Since the plastic has no pores the india ink/alcohol solution dried product is only topical and can be removed. Drafting india ink can be purchased at your local Hobby Lobby in a small plastic bottle.
Two hints:
1) Artist inks are available in a variety of colors. Using both black and brown (one at a time) can produce nice effects.
2) In addition to the overall I/A wash, you can also use an eye dropper to dribble a dilute mixture down roof valleys, around windows, and other paths that rainwater would naturally take. This produces very realistic stain patterns.
This is a two paint application, using a random application of rubber cement before the second paint was sprayed on. The second coat of paint is mechanically removed, some areas, to look like paint peeling, and then the whole building was dry brushed. All buildings are plastic, Ertl Farm set.
This is the basically the same building you have. My pics aren't great but you'll get the idea of the techniques I described above (as have others with some great ideas). I see that I also re-did the roof with "tar" paper, added chimneys/pipes, some awnings and lots of vines. Also, did some painting and used chalks as well for the weathering. 
I would at least mortar the brick and paint over some of the yellow. The windows do come out to make it easier. I did these two with spackle, then wipe as much off as desired with a damp cloth. Next winter I will paint windows and sills. The house on the right started out like the house on the left. I repainted all the windows and shutters while I had them out. These methods are cheap, just not easy.
You have to wonder about the choice of plastic colors, MTH building models. The MTH water tower with some paint. This also was a tear-down, paint, and re-assemble.
John H posted:I would at least mortar the brick and paint over some of the yellow. The windows do come out to make it easier. I did these two with spackle, then wipe as much off as desired with a damp cloth. Next winter I will paint windows and sills.
John, did one of two of these (opposites) the same way. Great suggestions.
Mike CT posted:You have to wonder about the choice of plastic colors, MTH building models. The MTH water tower with some paint. This also was a tear-down, paint, and re-assemble.
Mike, have repainted a lot of our MTH structures, sometimes their color combinations are way out there! Like your paint work and suggestions on the ERTL barn too.
MTH made a lot of these. I would sell it and buy one in more appropriate colors... then weather to your choice.
Lots of great ideas. MikeCT, your work is always great. Jerrman, that is really a great job. I have an MTH building that was red brick with gray trim paint. I weathered it but never liked the result because the underlying colors didn't mix well with my other buildings. So, I disassembled it and repainted. I'll try to find a photo. J Daddys suggestion is good as well. That yellow is powerful and with so much trim on the front elevations, the brick color is the accent IMO.
Hope to see what you decide Gondo...Willie.
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