Balsa Wood Painting

[Sangennaru]

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!

[Schogun]

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.

[Svennn]

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

[Malamute]

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.

[YIU]

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

[Sangennaru]

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

[Sangennaru]

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!

[Mad Carew Snr]

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.

[Sangennaru]

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.

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

[Mad Carew Snr]

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

[Sangennaru]

Moss? Lichen?

Yeah, moss... that's the word! tnx!
and thanks for the "Bellissimo"!!

[Svennn]

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.

[Sangennaru]

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?

[Mad Carew Snr]

and thanks for the "Bellissimo"!!

Preggo

[Svennn]

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.