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Missouri History Museum Model
Railroad Layout
Tips and techniques for detailing a scene
Painting Figures
Preiser "Unpainted Passers-by/Spectators"
590-16343
Life-Like "Construction Scene" 433-1322
by Rich Laux
photo by Richard Schumacher
 The
figures on the History Museum project are from a kit of
120 unpainted figures. Figures can be purchased already
painted, but are often very costly ($1 to $3 each). I
prefer to purchase the unpainted, which come in several
kits: trades people, passengers, drivers, pedestrians,
etc. For this display I used the passers by/spectators
kit from Preiser (590-16343; $24.99).
The process of painting the figures is fairly simple.
There are several important points to be aware of:
- The molded plastic figures have a production oil
film which needs to be removed with a mild
detergent and warm water, and then allowed to
dry thoroughly.
- Do not touch the surface you will paint. Handle
the sprue to which the figures are attached.
- The figures should not be removed from the sprue
until they are painted and completely dry.
Before you can begin to paint you need the necessary
tools.
- These figures are painted with acrylic paints
from Polly Scale and Model Master. I prefer
several skin tones: light, medium and dark.
Besides the skin tones, I used the following
colors: white, tan, light blue, gray, red,
black, brown, dark blue, orange, green, yellow
and olive green.
- The next step is brushes. Purchase a good grade
of brushes for acrylic paints, #1, #0, #5/0. For
small details (ties, belts, suspenders) use a
#10/0 brush.
- Begin painting by painting everything that is
going to be the same color. After this is dry
choose the next color. Wash the brush thoroughly
before going to the next color.
- Once all the figures have dried completely, cut
them from the sprue with a sprue cutter or a
hobby knife with a #11 blade and touch up the
cut off spots.
- The figures can now be mounted several ways:
Glue into place with the appropriate glue or
epoxy. Or if you are not sure where you want to
position the figures, you can use theatrical wax
on the feet to set them. You can then move them
to the position you like best. Once you decide
the permanent position, clean the wax from the
figure and glue it in place.
Initially this may seem like a very difficult
project, but after a little practice it becomes very
easy. I normally complete a 120-figure kit in six
evenings.
Read more about the Gateway Division's small model railroad layouts and
track plans.
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