¹⁄35

Never Abandoned

The Base

I usually build the models to completion before the diorama base but for this project I started with the base elements. I found the Italian City Building too large for the scene and somewhat too obscuring for a good view from the other side. So I modified the model by cutting away a portion of the front facade which also removed the Italian column feature making it more generic in architecture. I cut it down in a manner that kept the door centered for the arches and gave me a better corner joint for assembly.
(Photos 2 & 3)

The railing was warped using a heat paint stripping gun and spare brass from old frets was used to make railing mounts. The doors benefited from the addition of hinges so I made some from styrene and broke apart one of the insert door panels.
(Photos 4 & 5)

To create the weathered appearance I wanted I used the Marmite technique to help achieve the chipped and peeled paint of the building. I used 3M automotive blue tape and then cheap green painting tape to fill in the larger areas. i also used Silly Putty for a quick way to mask the organic shapes. I airbrushed the building a gray color for a base coat and then applied the Marmite using a round brush in a pattern that was logical for the weathering and existing damage of the model. I then airbrushed the yellow color, cleaned the Marmite off with warm water, remasked and re-Marmited and then added the terracotta color as I always work lightest to darkest color so that I get good coverage with the paints.
(Photos 6, 7 & 8)

After this, the building's stonework was given various hues of browns and grays to create variety in the tones of the building's structure.
(Photo 9)