Painting and weathering of Piko buildings

[Richie]

Picked up some cheap second hand Piko buildings just before Christmas and thought they could do with a make over before they were put in the garden just look too much like plastic .Got some inspiration after reading the articles by Ray Dunakin in the Garden Railways mag on painting a rustic buildings . I began by painting the buildings in the colours they came in to take away the plastic shine i then added white and grey paint using the dry brush method to bring out weathering of the wood on door and window pains then the whole building had a wash of dirty black paint to bring out the wood grain this was wiped over with a sponge . To finish off the look of the buildings i decided to add shop window fronts using items from 1/12th scale doll's house's bottles in the Liquor store tins in the General store and shoes in the Leather store .

Sheriff's building as it came ready to be painted

Liquor Store after painting

Close up of window display

General Store after painting

Close up of window display

Leather shop after some painting still needs the wash over the wood work to bring out the grain and shoes in the window

 

[JRinTawa]

That's great, definitely gives them more life.

 

[royale]

Very nicely done, Richie - really looks like they've been baking and weathering in the western sun (Rio Grande country).

 

[Madman]

Nice work.

 

[trammayo]

Drastically improved - great job!

 

[Lordraglan274]

Excellent make-over Richie, and the window displays really finish them off. They really look like they have been out in the elements for a few years.

 

[Richie]

Many thanks for all your kind comments hope to finish off the other 2 buildings this week also have a Pola water tower and a Piko station to weather next also hope to add some 12v lights to light up the window displays at night and finished off with a few figures.

 

[mike]

defitly the way to go richie.. vast inprovemt

 

[stevedenver]

youve made them look very plausible indeed,
ncely done
paint is everything

and i love the detail of the window insets and dollhouse items (food and booze bottles)
really adds interest

i too have some of these, weathered as well
i actually think they smaller size and footprint makes the building unique compared to typcially larger, but also allows for them to be tucked into tighter spaces-and are the best option for indoor use imho where layouts cant really handle the larger footprint buildings of POLAs western series

 

[Richie]

Cheers Mike & Steve
Buildings are just the right size for the area i have in mind ( have to be out of sight from the house ) down the end of the garden .The dolls house items could be endless as they do so much for a General store but could get very expensive . The spirit bottles don't look too large but the wine bottles look very big no small measures here they do like a drop or too in Rockery Ridge

 

[stevedenver]

yes the trips to the dollhouse store always cost me dearly,
and even for the less elaborate
even for the small white metal, unpainted castings and details

and even thought twice the proper size, they seem to add a good deal if judiciously placed

there are some great lamp fixtures available , not weather worthy, but really can add 'the look' to a station or store

 

[Richie]

yes the trips to the dollhouse store always cost me dearly,
and even for the less elaborate
even for the small white metal, unpainted castings and details

and even thought twice the proper size, they seem to add a good deal if judiciously placed

there are some great lamp fixtures available , not weather worthy, but really can add 'the look' to a station or store

That look's fantastic Steve would love to do that to these buildings but all the extra's would cost more than the buildings and would also find it hard to see as the buildings are at ground level . Also i have trouble with ants in the garden have found large nests in cars and vans and in my station building .

 

[beavercreek]

Also i have trouble with ants in the garden have found large nests in cars and vans and in my station building .

Yes Richie but if you photograph the ants alongside your buildings and people (even better with HO/OO scale) and it could be scenes from 'THEM' a 'B' Sc-Fi movie of some cult repute.

PS the buildings look great. The ones in my Arrowhead township, the ones which are way back under the bushes are needing a redo as well!

 

[steven large]

hello.. im baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.. from hernia operations 3 weeks ago! so how are u mate? so u ave great talents aslo loves your work!

 

[Richie]

Also i have trouble with ants in the garden have found large nests in cars and vans and in my station building .

Yes Richie but if you photograph the ants alongside your buildings and people (even better with HO/OO scale) and it could be scenes from 'THEM' a 'B' Sc-Fi movie of some cult repute.

PS the buildings look great. The ones in my Arrowhead township, the ones which are way back under the bushes are needing a redo as well!

Hi Mike
Many thanks for your kind comments
I think the ants would be great on a HO/OO gauge would be like the bugs in the film Starship Troopers

 

[Richie]

hello.. im baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack.. from hernia operations 3 weeks ago! so how are u mate? so u ave great talents aslo loves your work!

Hi Steven
Nice to hear from you sorry to hear that you have justed had a hernia operation hope your feeling a lot better now . Not done much with the railway until now with these buildings hence not posting much on the site been up to my neck in work and DIY . Many thanks for your kind words .

 

[Richie]

Found some time over the week end to finish off the painting and weathering of the Leather Boot shop and to fit out the window with some shoes . Have also made a start on the Sheriff's building have painted all the wood work and weathered the roof just need to weather the rest then i can start on the water tank .