I'm working on a Northeastern Scale models kit, NE30017 Valley Hardware & Plumbing. Here's a link: http://www.nesm.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=NSMI&Product_Code=NE30017 I'm close to finished, and it's time to put on the paper shingles that were included with the kit. However, I'm not sure how to color these. What was provided is a single sheet of light grey heavy paper (not quite what I would call "cardstock") with a shingle-grid pattern printed on it. How do I color this without obscuring the printed shingle pattern? I would assume brown would be a better color for shingles than grey. Any advice is appreciated.
I've used pastel chalk for shingles, rather than paint. Then spray dull coat to fix the chalk (the poor painting on the sides has been corrected since the photo).
Thanks...didn't think of chalk! Looking at some other photos that seems to be how the manufacturer did it, too.
I've painted with water based acrylics and gone over with Bragdon weathering system. It's not really chalk but it's great stuff!
If you go to a Lowes or Home Depot in the section that sells wood stains and supplies for repairing furniture, they sell pens that have stain in them. It's kind of like a "Sharpie" but with stain instead of ink. These do a good job of coloring paper shingles if you're trying to get a wood shake look. The stain isn't opaque so the pattern printed on the shingles shows through.