The deed is done

My friends, I just finished the factory facade!

Well, all that was left to do on the model was paint the roof and make the gutters. Here I tried a few new things. For the corrugated metal roof, I tried brush-painting a layer of grey over chipping fluid. After all, a thicker layer of paint would lead to larger chips which is sometimes exactly what we need! But it also led to some exciting crackle effects and this method will definitely come in handy at some other point. Painted wood would look fantastic with this approach.

For the gutters and other metal details, I tried corroded zinc plating. This was also a very interesting and pleasant experience. A layer of bluish-grey over a rusty base coat, worn down with chipping medium, and then some light grey mapping with a paintbrush. Of course, black ink and acrylic rust tones were heavily involved as well :)

As for the picture frame, it's a RIBBA frame from IKEA. I had to hack and modify it because I didn't realize the white cardboard cutout is slammed against the outer edge of the frame, not sunken at the opposite side (facing the wall). Ironically, I found much more suitable frames at a dollar store, but they wouldn't fit this facade... well, I'm keeping them for future projects :)

I already knew there would be quite a few fitting issues with this project, and it was mainly because I started working on it without having the picture frame in front of me. I realized that you don't have to make the entire building from top to bottom, but simply adjust your project's size according to the paper cutout in your picture frame. Also, it's important to make these facades THIN! Mine is almost 2cm thick, and that's just the brick wall. Another 1cm is added with the concrete pillar. So although the picture frame comes with glass, the factory wouldn't fit in, so I had to leave it without the glass cover.

To sum the project up, it was incredible fun and a great learning experience. I already know that acrylic inks will become my standard weathering tool for tanks as well. I also learned that bricks aren't the most exciting texture in the world, and in fact, faded wood or rotting stucco are much more interesting surfaces to recreate!

Honestly, these facades are a specific genre of modelling that I absolutely love, and would like to include them in my repertoire of projects and videos. There's so much to explore and they're much easier to do than full-blown buildings for dioramas, so if anyone fancies trying out a different subject that doesn't require too many tools, and most importantly, very little storage space, this is the perfect project!

In fact, as we're nearing the end of this year with Christmas coming up, I'd love to make one more, much smaller one, before I start working on another tank and a diorama.

Now I have to work on the video and take proper HD photos so it'll be ready for early release this Friday! :)