Painting Laser Cut Buildings

[Bravo Six]

Hi all,

I have a couple of laser cut buildings screaming their way across the pond from the UK and I had a question maybe someone with experience in this, could answer.

Is it easier to paint the building sections first, then touch up the join areas after assembly? Or is it easier to build the whole kit, then paint?

Just looking for some ideas based on experience, so I can plan my approach.

Thanks in advance.

-Todd

[Johan]

I spraypaint first in a base colour, then assemble , put some white glue on the joints to cover the blackened parts then add more colour.

[Thargor]

If you're planning on decorating the interiors, I'd do them prior to assembly.

[Gary Peach]

I find it always best to paint the panels separately, its just so much easier to hold and manipulate them.  Glue on any 'same colour' parts, paint what is seen and leave what isnt and needs glue. Weather the panels generally and tough up and finish it when assembled.

Its not an ad but may be helpful.  I have a how to painting PDF on my web page www.marchattack.co.uk its on the sarissa buildings page. Scroll down to see the link.

[Za Zjurman]

Hi Bravo Six,

I have a biggish Old West town in MDF. I painted them all with cheap arts and crafts acrylic paints, just straight on the MDF and then used washes to weather them.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=48558.0

Cheers,

Za

[Constable Bertrand]

Oh isn't that just the unending question? Thanks for asking it to hear the wisdom of the forum.

Personally, I'm looking at adding printed wallpaper, so I am going for the seperate approach recommended by Gary Peach.

but that said I have popped it all together until it gets another treatment. The joins in the aetherworks ones are pretty sturdy. I was wondering if I could do both painting separate, together for the corners, seperate for the details, then glue and final weathering together.. has that worked for anyone before?

Cheers
Matt

[Za Zjurman]

I added the wall paper to the internal walls and then glued the building together and painted them as a whole. It worked fine for me.

Cheers

[Too Bo Coo]

Hi Bravo Six,

I have a biggish Old West town in MDF. I painted them all with cheap arts and crafts acrylic paints, just straight on the MDF and then used washes to weather them.
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=48558.0

Cheers,

Za

B6,  DEFINITELY check out Za's town, it looks amazing in photos and in person and from all accounts was a simple method. 

[Bravo Six]

Thanks for the feedback lads. Za, your buildings look AMAZING! Well done.

-Todd

[anevilgiraffe]

I build, then decorate... 

[Mason]

I build, then decorate... 

As do I...the only problem being it will be at 1:1 scale this week.
 

[anevilgiraffe]

bet the detail looks great at that scale...

[zemjw]

From my vast experience of one building I built then painted, mainly because of the joins.

The insides were a bit tricky in the corners, but nothing dramatic, and would have been easier if I had changed brushes.

The biggest problem I had was the MDF soaking up the paint. In the end I applied a layer of gesso over everything, which definitely helped. I stumbled across MDF sealer last week, so I've ordered a tin.

[anevilgiraffe]

never had that, but then tend to render/clad the surfaces anyway