Model Railway Forum

Morning/afternoon everyone. I have made a timber yard out of balsa and card. Should I prime it first or go straight onto acrylics? Advice would be much appreciated before I do it wrong!

I alway paint staight onto balsa, makes it look a bit scruffier. Depends what finish you require.

Like WtD I'd go with the acrylics without priming. I'm assuming you are painting them in a bare wood colour. If it was enamels I'd prime but acrylics will colour and seal the surface. One thing I'd do, before painting is highlight the joints with a dark pencil, and after painting apply a thin darker wash to bring out the individual plank or panel joins.

when I make little wooden wagons I just paint straight on using brush paints and it works for me, though I'm using enamel paints mostly.

Slightly off topic as this is MDF rather than balsawood but the principle is the same.
I spray with Halfords white primer first then a wash of thin black acrylic and a few flakes of rust weathering powder while the wash is still wet.

20171227_165537 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Thanks everyone - I'll definitely be going for the scruffy/industrial look. After much frustration I'm pleased with my results so far - £3 for balsa and using offcuts of card compared to about £19 for a kit.