Giving Your Models a Stucco Giving Your Models a Stucco ExteriorExterior

Kevin LooffKevin Looff

March 7, 2009March 7, 2009

Today we will examine how to give model railroad structures the appearance of a stucco exterior.

We will discuss a little of the use of stucco on the prototype and why we would want stucco exteriors on our railroad structures.

We will then discuss several of the methods that modelers have used to obtain this appearance and give some examples of how this can be done.

We will finish by looking in more detail of one particular method.

Introduction

Stucco today is a mix of Portland Cement, sand, and water. In days past, stucco was a mixture of lime, sand, and water.

It is applied over lath attached to frame structures in multiple coats, or directly over masonry structures.

Basic ingredients of stucco, mortar, and plaster are all the same, but used in different proportions. Often, older blueprints will list plaster exterior instead of stucco.

What is Stucco?

Stucco is typically applied over the lath in three coats. Lath used to be wood slats that allowed the stucco to ooze through. Today, wire mesh is often used.

The scratch coat adheres to the lath and gives the next coats something to hold on to.

The brown coat is a smooth coat that goes over the scratch coat.

The texture coat is the final coat that can be used to give a structure a particular look.

There are many different ways to apply a texture coat from very smooth to very

rough.

Now that we know what stucco is and how it is applied, why would we want stucco exteriors on our models?

We model the southwestern United States where stucco is very common.

We might want to make a brick building look a little different.

Stucco was often used over the top of deteriorating masonry during remodeling.

Different architectural styles use stucco

Mission, Mission Revival, and Mediterranean

Different architectural styles use stucco

Tudor Revival

Art Deco

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

1.Textured Sheet Product (Paper, Sand Paper, Mat board, Vinyl, or Plastic)

2.Fine Sand and Adhesive

3.Texture Paints

4.Drywall Compound

5.Bondo (used in auto body repair)

6.Durham’s Water Putty

7.Acrylic paint medium with sand

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Sand & AdhesiveWatercolor

Paper

Texture Paint Durham’s Acrylic Med.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Same pieces now all painted the same color to show differences in texture

Sand & AdhesiveWatercolor

Paper

Texture Paint Acrylic Med. Durham’s

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Watercolor Art Paper

Not as commonly used. Fine texture lends itself for N scale.

Can be purchased at art supply stores in a tablet.

Needs to be cut to fit over base structure. Seams and joints can be difficult to blend or hide.

Best for large flat surfaces. Difficult to work around recessed areas and pop outs.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Watercolor Art Paper

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Fine Sand and Adhesive

Not as commonly used, but can be applied quickly.

Can be purchased at art supply stores in a small 1lb bag. This sand is used for sand art in bottles and comes in many colors.

Spray adhesive on base and sprinkle sand on adhesive.

Difficult to have fine control and can be very messy.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Fine Sand and Spray Adhesive

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Texture Paint

Relatively new technique.

Can be purchased at art supply or hardware stores in a spray can.

Spray texture paint on base material and let dry. Paint desired color if texture paint color is not the final structure color

Difficult to have control on application. May be too coarse for smaller scales (HO and N).

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Texture Paint

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Durham’s Water Putty

The most commonly used material for modeling stucco.

Can be purchased at hardware or home improvement stores in 1 lb or 6 lb. containers.

Fine Plaster Powder that is mixed with water. Dries a buff color.

Very durable, but not flexible.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Durham’s Water Putty

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Acrylic Medium with Fine Sand

My preferred method for modeling stucco.

Can be purchased at art supply stores (Michael’s and similar).

Heavy bodied paste that contains very fine sand.

Very flexible and durable.

Easy to apply. Many different textures are possible.

No mixing required. Good working time.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Acrylic Medium with Fine Sand

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Tools Used to Apply and Texture

Artist’s Knife – Multiple shapes

Paint Brushes

Hobby Knife

Spray Bottles

Painters Tape

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

The artist knife can be used to create a variety of textures.

There is no wrong texture pattern though always remember what scale you are working in.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Why do I like using this method?

1. Material is easy to work with. No measuring or mixing required. Plenty of working time.

2. Easy clean up. Warm water and occasionally some mild soap is all that is needed.

3. Fixing mistakes or removing excess is easily accomplished using hobby knife.

4. Easily covers modeling features such as recessed areas, pop outs, arches, around exposed beams.

5. Easy to create a variety of textures.

6. Flexible. Will not break or chip with handling.

7. Final appearance of model is very convincing.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Ways of Using Acrylic Texture Gel

1. Adding a realistic stucco exterior to match a prototypical structure.a. Mission, Mission Revival, Mediterraneanb. Tudor Revivalc. Art Deco

2. Altering a brick buildinga. Completely changing the appearanceb. Chipped stucco exposing brick underneathc. Cover brick separating windows

3. Altering a lap siding building.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Ways of Using Acrylic Texture Gel Over a Brick Structure

1. Tear an irregular piece of painter’s tape and apply to a brick wall.

2. Cover the brick wall with stucco trying to leave it thin over the tape.

3. Allow to dry and then use a hobby knife to help remove the tape.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Ways of Using Acrylic Texture Gel Over a Brick Structure

1. Use painter’s tape to mark a base on a brick wall and cover with texture gel.

2. Apply texture gel to bricks separating windows.

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

Examples of Stucco

Modeler’s Methods for Achieving a Stucco Exterior

QUESTIONS?