Painting DPM kits

[Ian MacMillan]

I have a bunch of DPM kits that I have built for the layout (the yellow wall ones) and I was wondering how everyone went about painting the walls and windows. My guess is to paint the building the window color first and then mask the windows and then paint the brick color.

I have just purchased a bunch more, and more to come for the layout.

[DKS]

I've tried a number of different techniques, but I keep returning to the same one: I start by priming the model with brick color primer; next, I'll apply the mortar, usually by brushing on slightly thinned, water-based mortar color paint and wiping it off with a paper towel; finally, I'll brush-paint all of the windows and woodwork. It sounds like more work, but it's not much more than masking, and the end result is usually better.

[Ian MacMillan]

I'll try and give that a shot and see how it turns out. One of the other reasons why I thought of painting the window colors first is that because of an accident I had about 12yrs ago my right hand shakes, so my brush painting skills are not that great.

[DKS]

My hand shakes now, too. What helps is to weather the building afterward, and get some pale-colored grunge into the joints between the windows and brick; this helps disguise brush painting errors.

Of course, you can always try both techniques and see what works best for you.

[Blazeman]

Do the mortar coat, then using a fan brush, remove excess brick color then pat the brick color on. Removing excess keeps the brick color from getting into the mortar joints.

Window work could be done prior to the mortar application.