Engine shed excursion

[gz3xzf]

I was digging through my boxes of bits and came across this: -

How many of us have built one of these? Having found it I decided that I would build a micro/small layout using the shed, haven't really decided how big it will be but the idea at the moment is some track going into the shed, with a single turnout leading to a siding with a coal stage between the two roads. Maybe I'll have a doodle with XTrkCAD later and see what comes up.

Back to the loco shed, having not built and painted an Airfix kit for a while and never having tried to get a realistic look before; I thought it would be a nice rest from the engineering type building required for the loco kit. So the easy bit (as far as I am concerned) erecting the kit: -

I then need some paint, so a trip to Frank Herrings in Dorch and a selection of Humbrol colours, so first a base of red brick and slate grey: -

Then I picked out some bricks and slates in alternate colours (my wife decided that the blue slates don't really work): -

Then something new for me, I made up a wash of thinners and a mortar colour (around 4 parts thinners and 1 of paint); this photo also shows how I framed the notice board. Using masking tape was a new thing as well and I am now wondering why I didn't use it years ago! -

Now masked up for the gutters, etc. I have decided that the fan needs to be black, rather than the green suggested by Airfix: -

I also decided the roof ridge should be terracotta so I have masked the roof, the side nearest the camera here hasn't been washed with the mortar colour yet: -

Now in the process of painting the window frames, I have also covered most of the blue slates with a different colour (just noticed that I missed one! ) and I have done the fan & RSJ over the main doors in Precision Paints Dirty Black: -

This is where it is now, I think there are some bits that need touching up, but mostly done: -

As well as painting the loco shed, I have a Wills platelayers hut that I put together a couple of years ago, this is the result so far: -

 

Any comments (constructive or otherwise ) or ideas/advice welcome.

[gz3xzf]

I haven't done any more work on the planned shed layout yet, but I have realised that in the loft there is a Superquick row of low-relief terrace houses that I built some 8 or 9 years ago, they will need some TLC but I think they will get built into the layout when it comes.