This thread was started in May 2020
Mountaingoat
Well, I have just started the welding & boiler shop of the Railroad Camp kit. This is the first time I have tried doing peeling paint and I used the mineral spirit method. Interesting results. I thought the white was a bit too intense so gave the wall a quick AI wash to tone it down. Now it is a bit grey but better than the stark white look. Those of you who know the kit know the top area of the wall will be shingled so I am concentrating on the lower section.
Let me know what you think of the start so far. Open to any suggestions.
Rick
Comments
ALCO
May 2020
From this pic, it’s hard to say if this is peeling paint. I might be looking for a 50/50 paint/bare wood result myself. Upper left corner might be a good result. I can’t tell if the peeling effect is consistently and equally distributed across the wall. Having said all that, I don’t know what you’d do to enhance the peeling while maintaining the peeled paint look. Hope others have some tricks up their sleeves.
Mountaingoat
May 2020
As you noted, the photo is a bit far away so here is a much closer look at one area.
Rick
JayNSmith
May 2020
Is the “mineral spirit method” described in detail somewhere? I’ve seen it mentioned several times but I don’t remember seeing step 1, step 2, etc.
Mountaingoat
May 2020
The technique is described in a post titled “Mineral Spirits Method”. You can find it near the top of page 2 of recent discussions.
Rick
Mountaingoat
May 2020
I did a few boards at a time. I had them on a popsicle stick with double stick tape. Just enough boards to be the width of the scotch tape when peeling. I did use an very slightly off white paint. Of course no 2 batches came out the same. I’m not sure what I think from a distance, but up close I kinda like it. The door including the frame is a casting so the paint effect there uses the wet brush technique. They look almost the same.
Rick
ALCO
May 2020
Mountaingoat said:
As you noted, the photo is a bit far away so here is a much closer look at one area.
Rick
Now this looks like the real deal! Nothing wrong here.
TomMich
May 2020
Looks very good! I don’t think the color is too bright. If you don’t like that bright of a white next time around you might try an antique white, ivory, cream. It ix called by many names, just find a color that suits you. I like the effect you have achieved.
brownbr
May 2020
Nice peeling effect.
Dave_S
May 2020
Rick,
The close up photo of the wall makes it look like you have a great start on this kit.
Looking forward to more photos as you progress.
Later Dave S. Tucson, AZ
Karl.A
May 2020
I really like the peeling paint (and I’ve done ALOT of it), you’ve got a very realistic look to yours.
Also, I don’t think the white is too stark at all at this point, paint was different all those years ago and held its colour much better. Once you have the structure/walls together you can do a final weathering/dulling and it will all blend much better then, in all the right places.
Also remember, because the boards are horizontal instead of vertical they peel differently in the real world, due to the rain, etc, running against the grain as opposed to with it(if they were vertical), which creates a whole different peel.
I like it, a lot.
Karl.A
May 2020
Oh, and I’d never guess that door was a casting, you’ve matched it extremely well to the walls, blends beautifully.
JayNSmith
May 2020
Very nice pealing paint! You must have a lot of patience - it looks like you put a lot of time in on it.
Mountaingoat
May 2020
Thanks all for your encouragement. I feel better about what I see. Just took a bit of getting used to it.
Jay, the peeling paint process isn’t that time consuming. I have maybe a couple hours doing all the boards for the entire build. The key is keep at it with a little experimentation as you go. No two batches react quite the same. Some I had to do the scotch tape a couple times using a burnishing tool to take press the tape harder into the stubborn paint sections. This is my first attempt at peeling paint so that shows it can be learned quickly. Didn’t throw any boards away. Just had to rework a few.
Rick
KKarns
May 2020
Rick, Looks really good. Think you achieved a very natural peel. The only thing I would do if it were mine is take my #11 and run it down each grain line on the vertical door frames. There are a few spots that look real thick and can’t see the grain. Just a bit so it blends better with the rest of the “boards”.
Robert.G
May 2020
I will echo this comment. Nice work !!
Mountaingoat
May 2020
I love Ken’s eagle eye. Thank you for seeing the little things that can be improved.
Robert, you and Ken do some of the most believable modeling out there. Thank you for your support.
Rick
admin
May 2020
Looks fantastic Rick, peeling paint is superbly done.
Mountaingoat
May 2020
Thanks Boss.
KCSTrains
May 2020
Outstanding work. Phil
Joel
May 2020
Nice peeling paint effect.
Robert.G
May 2020
Great work on the paint !!! Or what’s left of it.. 
Mountaingoat
May 2020
I have made progress. I started to use the paper shingles and realized I have spoiled myself. I had to do real cedar shingles. Lots of time with the chopper. The walls are together and ready for me to start detailing and add the roof and lighting…Rick
sdrees
May 2020
Hey Rick, you got the peeling paint technique down very well. Nice job!
ALCO
May 2020
Ed, I have to agree with you about the dark vertical siding. When I built this kit, I assumed that the original siding let in the wind so they put more boards over the old. But that obviously didn’t work because a lot of it fell off! Maybe it needs to be made more decrepit and weathered? Or if one is really bold, remove it. It is distracting without a backstory.
sdrees
May 2020
Come on Ed, the only way to have a Philly Cheese steak is with Cheez wiz. You don’t know what you are missing
sdrees
May 2020
I guess your respect for me will stay diminished now Ed, because I can’t endorse your hoagie nor Starbucks coffee.
Mountaingoat
May 2020
So hearing your opinions that I do respect. I wasn’t sure of the look either. I looked at it and tried to pry up a board. It would have torn the wall up. So I soaked it with alcohol for a bit to loosen the white glue and it finally came up. I removed the boards from this one wall to see what I think. You can definitely see where they were, but I think it adds a bit of character at the same time. That leaves 2 other walls. The wall that has the forge I think I will leave. That wall would take a terrible beating from the heat plus elements so the extra siding makes more sense there. The third wall will possibly be the back wall on the layout out of site, but will peel it anyway. What do you think with the obvious scars…Rick
Mountaingoat
May 2020
But Cheez Wiz on a Philly Cheese? Really?..Rick
sdrees
May 2020
You bet!
Mountaingoat
May 2020
So I reworked the other 2 walls. The first removing the vertical boards and the second lightening them up a bit. Not as dramatic. I’ll add a bit of soot behind the forge stack. Do you like the walls better without the vertical boards?..Rick
ALCO
May 2020
engine909 said:
ALCO, I look forward to what you decide. The fact remains you have done done outstanding modeling.
Uh, thank you, I think, but this is Mountaingoat’s project.
ALCO
May 2020
You’ll never miss those verticals. Looks great.
sdrees
May 2020
I vote also it looks better without the verticals
TomMich
May 2020
The walls do look much better without the vertical siding. I built this kit a long time ago and couldn’t understand the purpose of the vertical boards. I did leave them on though. I think they would have made more sense if they were “cut” into the siding as to repair damage.
You might try lightly wire brushing the places where the vertical lines show. This might blend things in a little better. Do it lightly though and assess the look.
The building is coming along nicely, and the shingles look great! Also “soot” up the brick and furnace door so it doesn’t look so “clean”.
Mountaingoat
May 2020
Thanks guys. I did hit the boards with steel wool, but no effect there. A bit hard to do the wire brush without damaging the window and door frames. I’ll work on it a bit more.
Tom, I just started the furnace. Lots to do all the way around.
Ed, you are forgiven for the oversight. It was late last night.
I hand laid the track just because that is all I have done for 40 years. However, it will probably all get buried in the dirt when I get that far…Rick
Robert.G
May 2020
Indeed it is.
CarlLaskey
June 2020
Done well Rick it is indeed.!!!Carl
AlexR
June 2020
would back woods logging have 4 spikes per tie as well? i’m doing hand laid track for the first time… Yours looks really nice. One can tell you have a bit of experience 
Mountaingoat
June 2020
I don’t think you can cheat the 4 spikes per tie. Standard railroads use fish plates and up to 8 spikes per tie. For reference, the spikes I use are Micro Engineering micro spikes. They are tiny and not easy to install. I would recommend their small spikes for someone less experienced. Those you can cut the heads down in size with wire cutters if you have the patience to look better. Look at my office/warehouse build. Those were small not micro spikes…Rick
brownbr
June 2020
You are right to use 4 spikes per tie. You can’t cut corners here on a diorama. You spend so much time making everything look as good as possible, it’s my opinion that the same should go for the track. Kudos.
Mountaingoat
June 2020
Thanks for all the compliments.
Alex, just go for it like anything else in the hobby. It is a skill that can be easily mastered with practice. Bryan is correct, don’t skimp on the trackwork after all the other effort you put into the scene. I have seen where you are headed and you are definitely on a great path.
I also want to thank Carl for great dirt to use on my dioramas. He shipped me a care package that was greatly appreciated.
Here is a quick look at the first step towards that end. Obviously need hinges, the crane and lots of details.
AlexR
June 2020
yeah, i just don’t know what railroads usually did. I know nearly nothing about railroads 
. i’m trying to find some good reference photos.
it’s amazing how how your scene is coming along. Especially knowing how tiny everything is!
Mountaingoat
June 2020
You have found another fun part of modeling, learning about your subject. You will enjoy the process that never ends…Rick
sdrees
June 2020
Rick, the weathering looks great
KKarns
June 2020
Rick that track work looks really good! Just the right amount of coverage over the ties with some showing through…well done.
Mountaingoat
June 2020
Well I finally got near the end. Always more that can be done. I enjoyed taking each of the three buildings in the Railroad Camp separately. They will probably be placed apart on my eventual layout.
Let me know if you see anything needing attention. Some of you have true eagle eyes. Otherwise it is time to shelve this one and start the next.
sdrees
June 2020
Looks outstanding
KKarns
June 2020
Wonderful work Rick. love the weathering on your roof. Everything blends well and your scenes are very well done. Glaring problem though!..red flag on the mailbox? Come on Rick, what the heck. Lol…
ALCO
June 2020
Lots of great weathering - walls, roof, everywhere. Attention to detail - under the wall vent and under the stovepipe. Good stuff!
Mountaingoat
June 2020
Sorry Ken, but the kids broke the flag off the mailbox and management hasn’t fixed it yet…It wasn’t part of the casting and I admit to being a bit lazy to make one for it. I guess you are going to make me do it…lol
Rick
kebmo
June 2020
engine909 said:
Only a fool would question the great modeling that you have done. Walls are excellent. Shingles are excellent. All extremely well done. Okay here we go, I am not a fan of the added dark boards. Fellow modelers are asked to agree, or if it’s ed, you are as wrong as cheez wiz on a Philly Steak. Which I don’t eat by the way.
try cheez wiz with bugles. my wife says its a delicacy…
personally, i hate it.
kebmo
June 2020
me too… 
brownbr
June 2020
A fine job. I always admired that crane.
Mountaingoat
June 2020
I appreciate all the positive feedback. However, Ken called me out about the flag on the mailbox so I added it. Here you go Ken…
Rick
KKarns
June 2020
There ya go, bending to the peer pressure! Looks great…and of course you know I was poking at you by finding something so minuscule amid all that wonderful modeling…
Mountaingoat
June 2020
Thanks Ken. I’ll take all the minuscule findings you want to give me. I did notice the flag at the time I did the mailbox, just justified not doing it for the wrong reasons (probably on the backside on the layout later). Keep em coming.
Rick
CarlLaskey
June 2020
Rick.
The flag is to big.
Mountaingoat
June 2020
Thanks Carl. Not going to trim it. lol
Rick
patrick
June 2020
Beautiful work…
CarlLaskey
June 2020
OK The mail box is to small. .!!! Ha
admin
June 2020
Just fantastic! Super well done.
MuddyCreekRR
June 2020
Really looking good…
sdrees
June 2020
Very well done!
KCSTrains
June 2020
I agree. Outstanding work. Your work is so good that the two white items in the next to last picture appear like they don’t belong. I little weathering would cure this. Otherside, great work. Phil
Mountaingoat
June 2020
Thanks all for the great feedback. I laugh at the fact the one item most referred to was the mailbox out of all there is in the diorama. Phil, the two items you are referring to are two new boilers on pallets ready to ship with new wood tops to protect the open end. Yes, a bit stark, but they are new and the rest…well. Maybe needs to be toned down a bit though.
Rick
Mountaingoat
June 2020
So it’s off to the next build. What to build though. I thought it would be fun to hear what you on the forum would build first. I have 17 more SW kits, but for this I narrowed it down to:
Small: Lineside Shed 25th anniversary edition
Tool Shed
Medium: Scotia Supply
Freight House
Water Tank & Storage Shed
Full: O’Niel’s Fabrication
Norton’s Brass & Iron Foundry
Quincy Salvage
I did clean my bench. Way overdue. It won’t look like this for long.
Rick
Mountaingoat
June 2020
By the way, the two side lights made a huge difference in my modeling. No such thing as too much good light. All lights are daylight.
Rick
KCSTrains
June 2020
I like the idea of the side lights. What kind of lights are they? Amazon??
BTW, with regard to the two new boilers, I understand. However, I always ask myself the question - is anything sticking out? A bit of weathering, even on something new, lets it blend into the scene like it belongs. Just like the red flag on the mailbox - great addition, but with a bit of toning down, it blends right in, like it belongs. Of course, that is my technique. I’m just sharing for your info.
Now, on to your next build!!! Phil
brownbr
June 2020
Bash a couple together on either side of the tracks.
Mountaingoat
June 2020
Phil, the side lights are such a great aid. A friend of mine purchased them for me when I was living in Hawaii. I think he found them at Menards. Mine have a clamp for table or bench edge as well as the base the clamp holds. I could even power them from the USB port of the computer. I did a quick check of Amazon and didn’t see this particular lamp. The goose neck is flexible and as you can see the lamp can also be tilted to one side
Rick.
KCSTrains
June 2020
Thanks Rick. I’ll take a look and see if I can find something similar. BTW, forum, I found 91% alcohol at Sam’s Club. They were packaged as two quart size containers. Phil
CarlLaskey
June 2020
I use three strobe lights you can see everything. .!!! Ha.
TomMich
June 2020
Great work! Turned out very nice. As for what’s next, I would recommend Morton’s foundry. That was a really fun kit for me.
KKarns
June 2020
Well Rick the mailbox issue is an exercise in “your entire build looks fantastic so what can we heckle you about?” and I chose to pick on the poor defenseless mailbox!
Tough decision on the next build…how about a current kit like O’Neils or The Foundry? Might be some modelers on the fence as to weather to pick up one or both kits from Brett and your quality work might just do the trick!!..Ken
TomH
June 2020
Really looks great.
AlexR
June 2020
Rick,
Where did you get your lazy Susan you’re using for your paint from?