Sofia Martinez
Building plastic model railroad structures can be an inexpensive and fun hobby. There are a variety of kits available in the market, with different levels of complexity. Beginners usually start with styrene kits due to their simplicity and availability. These kits usually come with separate parts for walls, doors, windows, and other details, moulded in realistic colours. Before gluing and painting, it is important to review the directions, diagrams, and parts of the kit. One can also create structures from scratch using raw materials such as sheets or strips of plastic, wood, glue, paper, and cardboard. When creating structures from scratch, it is important to draw the model building on paper or using a CAD program, including proper dimensions and scale. Whether building from a kit or from scratch, adding personal touches such as weathering, toning, or unique colour choices can make your model railroad structures stand out and look more authentic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Plastic, styrene, wood, glue, paper, cardboard, resin, plaster, card, laserboard, cardstock, mat board, vinyl, or masonry |
| Tools | X-acto knife, scissors, tweezers, files, side-cutting pliers, sandpaper, metal straightedge, scribing tool, sharp knives, scalpels, razor blades, emery boards, sanding sticks, scale rule, glue, paints |
| Techniques | Scratchbuilding, kit-bashing, weathering, painting, toning, kit-building |
| Considerations | Scale, cost, level of detail, time era, available space, track length, authenticity, neatness, precision, realism |
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What You'll Learn
Planning and preparation
First, decide on the type of structure you want to create. Will you be building houses, shops, walls, bridges, or factories? Choosing the right structure is essential as these elements tell the story of your railroad scene. Consider the era and location your model railroad is set in, and try to match the architectural style and materials accordingly. For instance, a modern-day street light would look out of place in a 1960s setting.
Next, choose the right materials for your project. Plastic kits are a popular choice as they are generally less expensive than ready-made buildings and offer a wide variety of models and manufacturers to choose from. Wood, resin, plaster, card, and paper are also common materials used in model railroad structures. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even create structures from scratch using raw materials such as sheets or strips of plastic or wood, glue, paper, and cardboard.
Once you've decided on the materials, it's time to gather the necessary tools and prepare the parts. Basic tools include sharp knives like X-Acto knives, scalpels, or razor blades; emery boards; files; sandpaper; a scale rule; tweezers; and glue or cement. Before gluing and painting, ensure all major pieces are prepared. Review the kit's directions, diagrams, and parts. Visualize how the pieces will fit together and plan any customizations. Sand the edges of the pieces to ensure they are square, as they may be bevelled from the manufacturing process.
If you're working with styrene, a popular choice for beginners, you can cut and trim the material with scissors. Styrene is often used for roofs, which can be assembled with liquid styrene glue. You can also create your own roofing shingles using pinking shears and gummed kraft paper, which adheres well to cardstock or matboard.
Finally, before painting, wash the entire structure with dishwashing detergent to remove any sanding residue or finger oils. Rinse with plain water and allow it to air-dry thoroughly. This ensures the paint will bond properly and prevents paint blemishes. You can use water-based or latex paints, such as Badger's Model-Flex, which can be brushed or airbrushed onto the model. Consider the colour scheme carefully, opting for colours typical of your chosen era and location.
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Assembly
Before assembling your model railroad structure, review the instructions and diagrams that came with your kit. Familiarize yourself with the parts and visualize how they will fit together. Consider any modifications or personal touches you may want to add to make your structure unique. Basic tools that will come in handy during assembly include an X-acto knife, scissors, tweezers, files, side-cutting pliers, and sandpaper.
For scratchbuilding, start by drawing out your design on paper or using a CAD program. If you're replicating a real-world structure, gather photographs from multiple angles and take measurements to ensure your model is as accurate as possible. Decide on the materials you will use, such as sheets or strips of plastic, wood, glue, paper, or cardboard.
When assembling plastic kits, it is important to prepare all the major pieces before gluing and painting. For example, a basic structure may include four side walls, roof materials (a sheet of plastic and small plastic brace strips), and small details like chimneys. Determine the best method for gluing the walls together, ensuring that the edges are sanded square as they are often bevelled during manufacturing.
Roofs can be constructed from cardstock, mat board, or styrene, and then covered with vinyl or plastic roofing material. You can also create your own shingles using pinking shears and gummed kraft paper. Remember to cut and trim the roofing material with scissors to ensure a precise fit. When assembling the roof, use liquid styrene glue to attach the roof sheet and supporting strips.
To enhance the appearance of your structure, consider adding details such as holes to the chimney tops. This can be done by drilling a round hole, slicing a section of Plastruct square rod, or attaching a small piece of brass tubing. Sand the top of the chimney to ensure a smooth surface before adding any details. Once the glue has set, rub the base of the structure on sandpaper to ensure that the bottoms of all walls are even, allowing for a solid bond with the ground when placed on your layout.
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Painting
Preparation
Before painting, it is essential to prepare the plastic parts properly. Wash the plastic pieces in soap and water, or use dishwashing detergent and a toothbrush, to remove any manufacturing oils, finger grease, or release agents from the molding process. This step ensures that the paint will adhere better and prevents paint blemishes. After cleaning, ensure the pieces are thoroughly dried. If your model has many small parts, you may want to paint them while they are still on the sprue. If your kit has brick walls, you can paint them black first and then lighten them with thinned washes of reds and browns for a stunning effect.
Priming
Many modellers use a flat grey latex primer as a base coat before applying the final colour. For wooden structures, a latex primer is recommended. Allow the primer to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
Airbrushing is the recommended method for painting plastic models, as it provides a smooth and even finish. However, you can also use regular brushes or small artist brushes for more detailed work. If using an airbrush, water-based or latex paints, such as Badger's Model-Flex, are suitable. For wooden structures, apply the paint thinly and in two thin coats rather than one heavy coat to avoid warping the wood.
When choosing paint colours, consider using craft paints, which offer a wider range of colours than standard railroad colours. These can be more appropriate for buildings. If painting a brick building, consider using a mortar-coloured paint to give the appearance of brick mortar. You can also use a wash of India ink with isopropyl alcohol or thinned black leather dye to create unique colours.
Lighting Considerations
If your model includes lighting, remember to paint the insides of the walls and the roof black to prevent light from shining through the plastic. You can also insert black cardstock or construction paper inside the structure to block light from passing through and enhance the reflections in the window glazing.
Final Details
Once the main structure is painted, you can add the final details. If your model has windows, mask around them and paint the window frames and sills in contrasting colours. You can also add signs and matching decal lettering to the exterior of the structure for added texture and interest.
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Detailing
When it comes to the actual construction, the more details you can add yourself, the more unique and impressive your model will be. For instance, after constructing the styrene walls, you can add strips of wood to the outside to create a wood-sided building. You can also create a stone wall by cutting and gluing embossed cards to the wall. Adding mortar to brick buildings is another effective way to enhance detail. By applying and then wiping off mortar in the joints, you can make the brick detail stand out. Coloring the mortar can make a significant difference, even if you choose to keep the original color of the plastic model.
Windows are another area where detailing can make a big impact. Cardstock or black construction paper can be inserted inside the structure to prevent light from passing through, creating a more realistic interior. For the exterior, clear plastic lids from disposable containers can be cut to size and used for windows, or even skylights.
If you're feeling creative, upturned bottle caps can be added to rooftops as air conditioning units or vents, and plastic drink bottles can be cut in half to create entrance canopies or station shelters. These additions can be further customised with modelling paints or weathering chalks.
Finally, painting your model railroad structure can add a lot of character and authenticity. While some kits come with acceptable colours, painting your structure can make it unique to your railroad. You can also use colours typical of the geographic area or era you are modelling, such as Victorian houses with body and trim colours or mid-century suburban houses with a single colour.
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Finishing touches
Once you've built the structure, it's time for the finishing touches. One of the most important finishing touches is to 'plant' the building into the ground rather than placing it on top. Use PVA adhesive to fix the building to the layout and, as the glue dries, sprinkle a very fine scatter material around the base of the building. This will help to camouflage the base of the structure and make it look more realistic.
If you want to add a pavement in front of your building, this can also improve the realism of your model. You can use the same technique as above, sprinkling fine scatter material onto PVA adhesive.
If your model building has a chimney, you can improve its appearance by adding a hole to the top. This can be done by drilling a round hole, slicing a section of Plastruct square rod (which has a built-in round hole in the middle), or gluing a small slice of brass tubing. Before using any of these methods, you will need to sand the top of the chimney to ensure it is level.
Another way to add detail to your model is to create a brick effect. Mortar is an essential detail for brick buildings as it makes the brick detail stand out. You can use commercial products like Robert's brick mortar, which comes in a variety of colours, or art hobby acrylics. Apply the mortar and then wipe it off so that the colour remains only in the joints. Use Q-tips to wipe the mortar from small nooks and crannies.
Finally, remember that your structures should be to scale and as authentic as possible. Consider the time era your trains will operate in and make sure every aspect of your train layout is historically and geographically correct. For example, a modern-day street light in a 1960s setting will ruin the effect you are trying to create.
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Frequently asked questions
The basics of building plastic model railroad structures involve first reviewing the kit's directions, diagrams, and parts. Next, prepare the major pieces by cutting, trimming, and sanding them as needed before gluing and painting. Finally, assemble the pieces, adding any desired details or personal touches. Useful tools include an X-Acto knife, scissors, tweezers, files, and sandpaper.
You can use various materials such as styrene, wood, resin, plaster, card, paper, cardstock, mat board, vinyl, or plastic. If you're creating your own structures from scratch, you can use sheets or strips of these materials and glue them together. You can also buy pre-made kits that come with separate pieces for walls, doors, and windows, or more complex kits with multiple structures and detailed instructions.
There are several ways to make your plastic model railroad structures look more realistic. Firstly, consider the scale and era of your trains and ensure that your structures are to scale and historically accurate. You can add details such as mortar to brick buildings, pavements, or "kit-bashing" by altering kits to create unique structures. Painting or weathering your structures can also enhance their realism and make them look less shiny and fake. Additionally, consider "planting" your buildings into the ground rather than placing them on top to improve their realism.
