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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Sangennaru on 15 April 2009, 04:55:56 PM

Title: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Sangennaru on 15 April 2009, 04:55:56 PM: Hi, I have a question for you scratchbuilders:

I have to paint some balsa woodstakes, used like floor or similar. I tried lots of different painting style, but i'm still unsatisfacted...

would you like to suggest me some scheme colours for balsa wood? better whith photos! ;)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/21ctvex.jpg)
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Schogun on 15 April 2009, 05:18:23 PM: I dilute regular acrylic craft paint and brush it on, letting the paint soak into the balsa, leaving the woodgrain. After it dries, I drybrush.
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Svennn on 15 April 2009, 05:26:33 PM: I do as Shogun or spray black and dry brush. The key I feel is using a VERY dry brush and build up patiently. Colour choice is obviously the other big factor. Ochres give a good fresh wood look, khakis and even greys are good for a more worn effect.
Trial and error are the only fool proof way
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Malamute on 15 April 2009, 06:12:39 PM: Quote from: Schogun on 15 April 2009, 05:18:23 PM
I dilute regular acrylic craft paint and brush it on, letting the paint soak into the balsa, leaving the woodgrain. After it dries, I drybrush.

Same for me, I use Burnt Umber acrylic paint, heavily diluted, almost washed on, sometimes it takes more than one coat.
You need to let the paint really soak into the wood, then when dry a drybrush of Bone/ivory does the trick for me.
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: YIU on 15 April 2009, 10:11:57 PM: I use different techniques (I can't list them all).

Undercoat with a black paint spray. Then drybrush with dark brown ( such as scorched brown), a light brown (bestial brown or graveyard earth depending on the effect), a yellow (snakebite leather or bubonic) and finish with a beige (bleached bone or commando khaki). I don't always use GW paints but it gives you an idea of the colours I use.

You can also paint your balsa without undercoating it in black and you will get a different effect.

For old rotten wood you can drybrush in graveyard earth and commando khaki or rotten flesh over a black undercoat.

You can also make washes with brown, black or green paint to get a different style.

Have a look at some of my balsa houses here :

http://hazgaard.forumpro.fr/vos-creations-f18/plateau-3d-modulable-termine-t523.htm
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Sangennaru on 16 April 2009, 10:31:42 PM: wow, really nice balsa houses!

ok, I've fodun what I need... it is quite simple, because i bought today a now brown, and it fits almost perfectly on what I am planning to do... it should be really nice!

thanks you everyone for tips! I'm making a lot of tries!

Jack
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Sangennaru on 17 April 2009, 08:30:00 AM: Ok, I made a sample of roof for a color sample, and I really like it!

I just kept the standard order: Black, dark brown (like scorched), dark brown + ocra, and finally a lighty white+ocra, on the edges... i took around 15 minutes to paint it, then I added some details!

Some pics soon!
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Mad Carew Snr on 17 April 2009, 09:32:00 AM: Quote from: YIU on 15 April 2009, 10:11:57 PM
Have a look at some of my balsa houses here :

http://hazgaard.forumpro.fr/vos-creations-f18/plateau-3d-modulable-termine-t523.htm

Superb. Tres bien.
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Sangennaru on 17 April 2009, 03:23:19 PM: ok, I made a photo on what I did yesterday. I have to say, I'm quite satisfied on the result... the photo is not so good, but it seem to be acceptable.
(http://i44.tinypic.com/5dl0yv.jpg)
Waiting for yours comments... what do you think about it? I'm not very shure about the grass... I made a light drybrush of green+brown nearby the grass, to make an effect of the vegetation on a roof (i don't know the proper name in english...)

Jack
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Mad Carew Snr on 17 April 2009, 03:39:11 PM: Quote from: Sangennaru on 17 April 2009, 03:23:19 PM
drybrush of green+brown nearby the grass, to make an effect of the vegetation on a roof (i don't know the proper name in english...)

Moss? Lichen?
Well, it looks great - Bellisimo
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Sangennaru on 17 April 2009, 03:42:16 PM: Quote from: Mad Carew Snr on 17 April 2009, 03:39:11 PM
Moss? Lichen?
Yeah, moss... that's the word! :) tnx! ;)
and thanks for the "Bellissimo"!! ;)
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Svennn on 17 April 2009, 03:43:41 PM: Super job. Thats turned out rather good. The little bits of carving help to break it up and overall its a lovely piece.

Now all you have to do is the rest of the building. Nothing wrong with your command of english either, vegetation is fine.
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Sangennaru on 17 April 2009, 03:46:01 PM: the rest of the building? it was a sample, a proof... i made it yesterday just to speriment some news techniques... the building is gonna be built... i have to make some photos... but WIP is not so interesting... :-\ do you think I should put on a topic?
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Mad Carew Snr on 17 April 2009, 03:46:15 PM: Quote from: Sangennaru on 17 April 2009, 03:42:16 PM

and thanks for the "Bellissimo"!! ;)

Preggo
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Svennn on 17 April 2009, 03:54:39 PM: Small patches of very fine sand glued with PVA, like a lot of people use on bases, can look good representing moss on balsa planks.
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Malamute on 17 April 2009, 04:11:28 PM: Quote from: Svennn the DH Nut on 17 April 2009, 03:43:41 PM
Super job. Thats turned out rather good. The little bits of carving help to break it up and overall its a lovely piece.

Now all you have to do is the rest of the building. Nothing wrong with your command of english either, vegetation is fine.

Seconded, it looks very nice. :)
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: YIU on 17 April 2009, 07:06:35 PM: It looks great but you should have a higher highlight with bleached bone on the edge of your tiles (a light highlight).

Here is another example of a roof I made for a diorama. Of course you can't do the same light effect on a tabletop building because you would have to do it on all your buildings and place them under the same light source (same direction) which is impossible if you want a modular table.

(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm165/moavoa/TheColorPurple.jpg)
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Sangennaru on 17 April 2009, 07:50:28 PM: Quote from: YIU on 17 April 2009, 07:06:35 PM
It looks great but you should have a higher highlight with bleached bone on the edge of your tiles (a light highlight).
I did it... maybe in the photo it is not so evident, but I assure you about it!

Quote from: YIU on 17 April 2009, 07:06:35 PM
Of course you can't do the same light effect on a tabletop building
Wait, do you mean the woof effect or the other one? I love the other one, but on the roof it is a bit too heavy... I really prefer something more dark... Dunno why....

And, of course, this is a fantasy models... they've to be more colourfull than an historic one... dunno why, but that's true! ??? ??? ???
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: YIU on 17 April 2009, 07:58:48 PM: No on the other one I was speaking about the light on the wall, not the roof.
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: Sangennaru on 17 April 2009, 08:00:33 PM: Quote from: YIU on 17 April 2009, 07:58:48 PM
No on the other one I was speaking about the light on the wall, not the roof.

ahh ok!!! this one is amazing, i LOVE what you did whith that technique... as you said, unfortunately, I cant use that on a tabletop building... :)
Title: Re: Balsa Wood Painting
Post by: YIU on 17 April 2009, 08:01:49 PM: Yours looks great too, ,thanks. Photos are often our ennemies ;)