Grain Elevator Diorama

I have finally decided to try to get some of the pile of structures kits off the workbench. For a while now they have been teetering on the verge of triggering a kit box avalanche. I decided that I will build the structures and make small bases or dioramas to go with them. This way I can do some quick scenery and not just add them to the self orphan pile.

The first kit that I pulled out is the Walthers Farmers Cooperative Grain Elevator.

I quickly assembled the three buildings that are part of the kit.

 

First I airbrushed the buildings and other parts with an undercoat using Apple Barrel Dolphin Gray thinned 1:1 with blue windshield wiper fluid.







Since I want to have a paint peeling effect I will airbrush the underlying wood color on the buildings.

 

For the wood color I first airbrushed a coat of Folk Art Raw Umber thinned 1:1 with blue windshield washer fluid. To my horror I ran out of Raw Umber before I could do a second coat. So for the second coat I used Folk Art Burnt Umber.

 

To achieve the painting peeling effect I use rubber cement. I first brush on the rubber cement in places where I want the paint to peel.

 

Once the rubber cement dries I will paint the final color. After the final coat dries I will take an eraser and rub off the paint in those areas. If all works I will have peeling paint.

 

Thanks Alan!

From what I can find out from the history included with the instructions these types of grain elevators were constructed in the steam era and could be found any where with in the grain growing areas of North America.

 

Tom:

Thanks for tip of using raw Umber for the color of the grain elevator.

I am about to start on a lasercut grain elevator and the raw umber is a good choice for the color. I routinely use blue windshield wiper solution as a dilutant.

Originally I was going to mix mineral red with railtie brown and use that for the color.

But the raw umber is a better choice.


Stay cool and run steam....

 

Now I painted the final color for the buildings. I used Apple Barrel Red Apple. The undercoat of Raw Umber and Burnt Umber gave the red a darker and little uneven coloring which I thought looks better than the unpainted red plastic.

 

Next I use the gray end of a gray and white eraser and gently rub over the spots where I painted over the rubber cement.

Here is how the grain elevator building came out. Since the building is so tall I had to take a couple photos of each side. I don’t know what the white dots are. They’re not there on structure. I am guessing they are a reflection.

 

Here is the freight house or warehouse building

 

And lastly we have the shed






Now everything is ready to be sealed and the window glazing and roofs installed.

 

Cool work on the paint effects there, nice!

 

This is a new lesson for me. I am just thinking about what buildings to use it on. Probably painted metal buildings, too? Any place for peeling paint.