To paint, or nor to paint.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember12892]

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember12892]

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[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

It's unfinished until it is painted, polished, assembled, adjusted and proven to work.

Just like any other workpiece.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember12892]

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[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Would it help if I added that I think a finished job looks better with wear marks on the linkages, water stains from the valves, heat and soot marks on exhausts, and all the other signs that the thing actually works?

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

It's your model and I agree it looks good unpainted.
Entirely up to you if you want to cover it in pink and purple polka dots – or just a clear protective coat.
If anyone doesn't like it then that's their problem.
Glitter anyone?
let's face it half the time the paint's there to cover the cock-ups….

pgk

Edited By pgk pgk on 26/07/2021 19:56:47

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Depends who is going to have to keep it bright and polished if left unpainted though you could use a clear lacquer to save it tarnishing over time.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

If I could make such a nice thing I'd leave it nude till tarnish sets in, then clean up and paint.

It's up to the artist to decide when a work's finished, but my missus says that once that decision is made and the thing is put into the world, it then belongs to the world.

I'm not sure it's clear when that point arrives, though.

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember12892]

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[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Depends what you want to emphasise:

• Unpainted brings out the quality of the build and the craftsmanship that created the object. Qualities normally hidden can be admired,
• Paint makes the model look like the prototype, covers up blemishes, and brings out shape and style. Not easy to get right. Plain black would be appropriate for an industrial setting whereas the same engine could be authentically garishly painted if it worked a theme park. A military engine might be camouflaged. Many arguments about the exact shade of green used by the GWR in 1875! Paint adds another high-level of skill and involves aesthetics, but it hides much.
• Grunge is realistic, which appeals on another level.

Of the three I prefer plain or grunge to superb paintwork, because perfection smacks of fleeting Sunday best fakery. Super-smart is posed and essentially unreal, and there might be a well-polished turd underneath. I dislike bling, others love it!

Dave

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Not only would I paint it but I would also weather it, even a light weathering for me makes a world of difference but then I appreciate that a lot like them looking as if they are new and just rolled out of the factory shed.

Each to their own.

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by Ron Laden on 26/07/2021 20:31:48:

Not only would I paint it but I would also weather it, even a light weathering for me makes a world of difference but then I appreciate that a lot like them looking as if they are new and just rolled out of the factory shed.

Each to their own.

I hate added weathering. It's really rare to find someone who knows when to stop, so it just looks fake. And ugly.

Patina is a word that's massively over used too. For me it's the marks of use and maintenance, not neglect or abuse.

I had a friend who was an antique dealer, and his advice on recent restoration work is equally applicable to this: ask yourself what are they trying to hide?

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

After about three trips out my locomotive looked weathered and with an ingrained patina. I guess its earned it, and its prototypical, but its still not going to win any prizes!

That being said, I think that although this would benefit from a nice paint job, it is a shame to cover up the workmanship.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

It doesn't really matter what we think does it?

But it appears someone has already painted the frame and buffer beams, probably hiding all sorts of mistakes under there – or maybe not.

Painting is really difficult, you only have to look a what Stationroad Steam has to say about some peoples painting skills. At the same time shiny new paint seems to be what the majority of buyers and the public want. You only have to look at the popularity of ex steam rollers converted into shiny new showmans engines.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

At the end of the day it is down to the builder of any model as to what they want yes I agree that sometimes unpainted can look very nice on certain models where as others need to be painted.

As to those that think that painting is there to cover mistakes I can only assume that is why they paint their models. Not all that are painted are done to cover mistakes but to enhance them

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I'm with Jason here, a light coating of lacquer. But it would also look great in a suitable regional livery.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

If you don’t paint then you can always claim it’s not finished yet which heads off the nit pickers

Mike

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

A friend won a Gold Medal and an other very well respected trohy with his model

But you should have seen what it looked like after being steamed, fortunately unpainted..

The superb paint job covered the singe marks, and went a long way towards winning the prizes.

If you don't mind an unpainted model acquiring any sort of patina, leave "as is"

So the choice is entirely yours. If others don't approve, TOUGH.

Your model, your choice.

Howard

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