Hi guys,

I have just finished another custom build for the same guy as the Champion Packing Plant i posted a few days ago. This one being the Prairie Star Grain Elevator by Walthers. This was a plastic kit but had a wood panel siding on it. So, i used the original color (orange red, kinda looked like redwood) as a sub base color and added a tan color as my other base color for the wood. Then i added a darker brown and some black to simulate mold and decaying/rotting sections. I wanted this too look like it was on its last leg as a wood structure.... All together, it prolly took me 2 hours to build up layers of paint to where i was somewhat happy with it lol. I then assembled the structure and added the aluminum roof, and heavily weathered it to go with the rest of the structure.

Then i applied the decals, which i think i should have done first and sealed them on before i started painting, since it would have covered them up and blended them in better.... There was one logo on the side of the structure that just did not come out very well at all, it was the vertical logo and you could totally see the clear film on it, even after i had weathered it and tried to blend it in, so i had an idea pop into my head to make it look like an older logo that was seen on the structure maybe when it was first build decades ago. So i took some 220 grit sandpaper and lightly sanded off some of the decal, leaving bits of some pieces behind to make it look like it was a really old sign. It also made it look like the sections behind the old sign had been slightly more "preserved" then the rest of the structure. The opening on the side of the structure is where the covered conveyor will connect this structure to the Milling Building.

For now, here is some pics of the grain elevator structure, and when i finish the Milling Building, ill post those here as well....















I am interested to know what you guys think of this one?

Hi Josh,

Another cool structure

Yes apply the decals before any final painting/weathering ..... the long decal you had to conceal the carrier film on did you apply it to a gloss surface on the side of the building ? ... the film always shows up with a matt surface.

After leaving the decal to dry on a gloss surface a spray over with a flat coat would be needed of course to blend in ready for weathering.

upnick Wrote:Hi Josh,

Another cool structure

Yes apply the decals before any final painting/weathering ..... the long decal you had to conceal the carrier film on did you apply it to a gloss surface on the side of the building ? ... the film always shows up with a matt surface.

Ahhhh that would explain it

Thanks Nick, Ill have to apply the decals on the next one before i weather lol

Hi Josh,

Think of matt paint as a series of peaks and troughs i have done a sketch here the blue areas are where the air is trapped leaving a silvering effect on the decal and over time look awful ..... appyling gloss varnish before decalling gives and even smooth surface for the decal to sit on eliminating any trapped air ....... decal agents help things settle and conform more as well to any details, such as brick/boarding.

An alternative to varnish is Future floor polish available at your Walmart store possibly.

Thanks Nick

I finished the Prairie Star Milling Building this morning, here are some pics of the Prairie Star Milling and Grain Elevator Complex before its boxed up and sent off to its new owner

You did a nice job on these, too, Josh.

As others have said, put the decals on before the weathering. A coat of clear gloss finish on the walls before applying the decals will make them easier to apply and easier to hide, too. After they're in place, you can apply a decal setting solution such as Walthers Solvaset, to get the decal to "snuggle down" into the board detail. After the initial application of Solvaset has dried completely, use a fresh blade in your X-Acto to slice the decal at every "board", then apply more Solvaset. After it has completely dried again, you can sand it lightly with fine sandpaper to weather it, then an overspray of clear flat finish will kill the shine and make the decal disappear. Then you can add any additional weathering.

Wayne

Great job Josh!
That is one impressive complex

Wow - very nicely done! That's a huge complex...but I bet it will look great on a layout.

I'm astounded....!!!

So there's gotta be an explanation.....Does the magic wand come with the kits, or did you purchase it separately..??

Guys, id like to thank you all for your kind and encouraging words!! They really mean alot, and well, they tell me im doing at least something somewhat right LOL

Wayne and Nick, thanks again guys for the tips on applying the decals to a glossy serface, you can be sure that i have learned my lesson and i will do better, well hopefully, next time lol I still think these buildings came out pretty good, even with the visible decals in some spots lol

Gus, hehehe the magic wand was a gift, i have had to learn it over the past 4 years hehehe, jk jk, i hardly consider myself to be an expert at anything in the MR world, im still young and learning more and more everyday i come and visit here

Josh, the magic wand you’ve got may work a little slowly, but it works great magic! A very impressive structure and you weathered it just enough to give it a very realistic look. Great job, my friend .