"More Russian Buildings" Topic

Started another Russian farmhouse this evening, and realized my previous post wasn't cross-posted to Terrain, so I'm starting another one.

There's a full writeup on the method I'm using for these buildings over on The Warbard: link

The wood siding is coffee stir sticks split lengthwise, then glued along mattboard walls. I go right over the pre-cut doors and windows, then trim the wood away afterward. Much easier than premeasuring!

Looks interesting and handy for use in a few locations.

Following the thread a couple of things I have questions n:

1) How did you get the grey look of the first building – the shading on the edges is just right and I wonder if you used brown or just black / grey / white?
2) Did the matt board sag when you applied the towel? The only time I tried this I used a fair amount of PVA and ended up with a soggy board that got binned!

Andrew
Main site: blog.kings-sleep.me.uk

I second question No.1 above, I'm always looking for a way to get wood to look that spot on but keep missing it, what colours/method do you use?

The first building has a black basecoat (mixed with white glue to seal, strengthen and solidify the building) then a moderate drybrush with a fairly random mix of mostly grey with a bit of brown in it. I drybrushed both vertically and horizontally. I then did a second pass with more lighter grey in the mix, mostly on the upper halves of the walls which would be slightly cleaner.

I didn't have any problems with the mattboard warping under the towelling, although I was worried too when I started the first roof. I glued the roof on dry, then used 1:1 glue/water mix brushed on to harden and fix the towel. The black basecoat had a bit more white glue mixed in.

I've built the roofs for both houses now, and no warping or sogginess in either. I've been very pleased with how the roofs have come together, actually.

Began building a Russian church a couple of weeks ago, realized I hadn't added it to this thread.

Walls finished except for trim:

Roof finished except for the domes, which are in progress:

Blog post the first: link

Second blog post, mostly talking about the domes: link

The domes themselves are turned wooden shapes from Micheal's, sold as "decorative rod ends", presumably for small curtain rods and such.

Well, well well, I use almost the same method for making Russian buildings, I used card boxes as the base. The Gu range of puddings sold in the Uk come in boxes that are just the right size for a relatively big house, circa 8 by 17 cms rouhgly 3 1/2 inches by 6 3/4 inches by 45 mm high (1 3/4 inches)

however to colour the timber I use a solution of rust in vinegar. leave a nail or piece of wire wool to soak in standard vinegar, soak your timber overnight, and it will take on that silver grey hue common to old timber exposed to the outside. Or provide more iron, make your solution stronger and paint on the resulting brown liquid, to act as a brown wood stain.

nice idea for the domes!

rabbit