Katzhagen - Archive - March 2013
Weatherproof curtains for model buildings outside ? Really ?
Absolutely !
The window decorations made from paper which are provided by the known manufacturers along with their model kits are nice goodies, but they don't last long in case the buildings remain outside. These paper decorations simply decompose after some time and depending of a buildings placement it will take no longer than two years until almost nothing is left of them.
But remedy is available in form of selfadhesive clear film onto which one can print the patterns of the paper decorations after having scanned them:
Scanned curtains printed onto selfadhesive clear film
Prior to equipping the buildings with your new curtains it's advisable to clean them with water, some detergent and a brush thoroughly (f.i. under the shower) - particularly the windows. Since a building is clean after this procedure, it's a good occasion to brush them up in general a bit. Revell colors showed excellent results when being applied with an airbrush gun. A perfect impression can be achieved by applying a final coat of 50% glossy and 50% matte clear varnish:
A few litres of water and some detergent as well as a bit of paint from the airbrush gun - as good as new after ten years outside.
You may want to move your mouse pointer onto the picture - for a night view.
After having completed the exterior's renovation, one can dedicate oneself to the curtains:
The curtains are cut to fit the windows' sizes, affixed to the windows and the airbrush gun is used to apply a final coat of white paint.
After removing remainders of the old paper decorations and cleaning the windows inside the building, the new decorations made from plastic film which where cut to fit can be applied.
Due to the film's transparency it is necessary to either use an airbrush gun or a spray can to apply a coat of white paint on the interior side.
New decoration made from selfadhesive clear film onto which the scanned paper decoration patterns were printed.
The coat of white paint on the windows' interior side provides for an excellent impression at night as well since the curtains are clearly visible.
The problem with the self-decomposing paper curtains should be a thing of the past now...
In the face of the numerous buildings and timely efforts required for the renovations, it will most likely take until 2015 to get all of the constructions done. According to Murphy one will have to start over the whole procedure then...
