A comprehensive guide to painting & weathering the Scale Model Scenery LX050-OO Catenary.
The LX050-OO Catenary Portal Kits once assembled & before installing them on a layout, need to be painted & if required for further realism also weathered up too!! On the real railways around the country, metalwork used on OHLEcatenary masts, gantries & headspans is steel with a galvanised finish. The galvanised steel finish can be replicated using suitable coloured spray can paints, available on the market. Painting of the catenary portals can be done quickly & easily giving an impressive-looking finish.
We often get asked here at SMS for the best way to paint & also what paints we recommend for painting the LX050 catenary. So if you're unsure what paints to use on laser cut kits or have never painted using a spray can paint before, this blog guide, we hope will help get you up & running with a spray can paint. Without further ado we'll now run through some of the most commonly asked questions we regularly get asked.
What Paints should I use to paint the masts & head spans?
Matt acrylic paint in a suitable silver effect colour or grey primer paint is ideal.
Which is the best method to apply the paint? Brush it on or spray paint?
Our recommended preference is to use an aerosol rattle can spray paint to give the best even coverage of paint. It also makes it easier to get the paint in all the tight bits & corners that a paintbrush would struggle to get at.
Would you recommend giving them a primer coat of paint first?
It's down to one's personal preference whether you apply a primer coat of paint first. I usually apply a coat of grey aerosol can primer paint first then leave it to dry naturally, before applying the silver effect paint.
Could I get away with just leaving them in grey primer paint?
Again it's down to one's own personal preference, as to what finish you are wanting for the catenary. Leaving them in a grey or lighter-coloured grey coloured primer paint will be fine. To give them a further more natural look, apply some weathering to represent track dirt & natural weathered tones.
Which silver colour would you recommend?
The likes of a metallic-looking silver colour such as these examples listed below:
- Plastikote Metallic Silver spray paint part number 621
- Humbrol Acrylic Silver spray can paint part number AD6011 No 11
- Tamiya Metallic Silver spray can paint part number TS-83
- Halfords (car accessories store) here in the UK also has its own brand of Silver Galvanised Effect spray can paint. We've had good results with using it.
Further to the above recommended/suggested paints, you may of course have your own preferred brand of suitable silver /galvanised effect spray can paint.
What method or tips for spray painting the catenary?
- Always follow the directions on the spray paint can.
- Spray paint in a well-ventilated area.
- Wear a mask to prevent breathing in the paint fumes.
- Make sure there is no dust or debris on the item being painted.
- Apply coats in different directions to get in all those nooks and crannies.
- Apply a tack coat first. A light misting before applying the first coat & allow it to dry for 5 mins). This will prevent runs & helps hold the first full coating.
- Apply the paint in a number of thin coats. Don't be tempted to spray it on thick.
- Apply the spray can paint from around 10" to 12" (254mm to 304mm) distance from the item being painted.
- Save making mess use a paint spray booth. This could be a proper spray paint booth to something as simple as a cardboard box.
- Take your time & don't rush!!
- Let the paint dry naturally don't force dry with a fan.
Weathering, what would you suggest?
To add further realism & a more natural in-service look to the catenary portals, apply weathering after painting. Weathering materials range from weathering powders & pigments, weathering pastels, and also the likes of weathering paints & oils. Examples of paint weathering pigment sets by Lifecolor can be found on our website here:
Another popular method is to use artists' chalk pastel sticks. Shave them with a craft knife over a dish to collect the scrapings. The scrapings are then crushed into a fine powder in the dish & then can be applied using a brush.
The method I like to use is weathering powders. Weathering powders are available from various makes, such as Mig, Noch, Humbrol, AK, DCC Concepts amongst others. Some weathering powders come in sets such as track grime, rust effects, and greys. I also use weathering pigment sets that Tamiya produces called Weathering Master. Observe photos of the real thing or pay a visit to the real railways to note how the real catenary has weathered. This can then be replicated on the catenary in model form.
Interested in installing our Catenary on your layout? Read our handy guide to find out which packs you need here.