Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey all

Planning on building an Inn for WFB. It will have that Tudor style wattle and daub exterior finish on parts of it. I'm struggling to think of how to make that textured look though.

I've considered textured masonry paint, but it's a tad expensive at the moment, even testor pots...

Are there any cheap, quick and easy methods to make such texture on the outside of buildings?

Thanks in advance for any tips on this.

Mix a little bit of kids play sand into the paint and it will give the required style

I don’t know it’s formal name, but the spackle/wall filler stuff they use to smooth over nails etc from putting up drywall.

<rummages around his gallery>



Something like this. I used it to smooth over the join on my webway gate.

 Rybrook wrote:
Mix a little bit of kids play sand into the paint and it will give the required style

You may want to go a little finer on the sand scale. colored decorative sand(for crafting)is really fine and wont add too much texture to your paint.

Ah cool thanks guys.

I thought there'd be a cheaper solution out there than a tin of masonry paint.

Had a feeling sand was the way to go.

I wonder if Vallejo Earth Textures Desert Sand might be a good way to go, for a premixed solution (worried about faffing around with paint to sand ratio and clumping)? https://acrylicosvallejo.com/en/producto/hobby/diorama-effects-en/desert-sand-26217/

Ahh completely forgot, you can get pumice stones and crush them up or get the ready mixed stuff from Golden

Do you mean this? - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-NA-236ml-Fine-Pumice/dp/B0007W5VNC

Yeah that's the stuff, makes great bases too

OK thanks. Looks a bit more expensive than Vallejo's product.

Almost as expensive as masonry paint!

I'll look around for it on places other than Amazon though.

Racerguy180 wrote:

 Rybrook wrote:
Mix a little bit of kids play sand into the paint and it will give the required style

You may want to go a little finer on the sand scale. colored decorative sand(for crafting)is really fine and wont add too much texture to your paint.

Would fine plaster work?

If the OP is going for a wattle and daub look, that is basically primitive plaster and has a pretty smooth texture in reality compared to sand. Plaster of Paris is ground gypsum right? Wouldn't that provide some texture mixed with the paint?

I use a mix of powered polyfiller, any brand, with some fine sand, mix with water and some cheap acrylic. you can apply extra layers if needed. A spot of pva in the mix will give more flex to the coating if it goes to an unsupported edge (ie building with no base). the pva can be reactivated by moisture, so this bonds further layers to the first, but can make wet painting later annoying.

you can sand back sections before adding or finishing, and add cracks and imperfections to hide mistakes or build ivy and creeping vines.

remember, it's better to try and learn, and get something on the table than not. No matter how good it turns out the model 50 from now will be better, and it's the same for all of us.

Maybe this will help? BMC uses a mix of tile grout and water for the walls in this video.

I would suggest getting some plain old spackle/filler and testing that out on a piece of scrap before trying any more expensive solutions. A small jar of spackle is usually less than $4 USD.

Thanks for the tips guys.

I'm a little hesitant to start this project now though. i costed it up the other night and it was going to cost me £65ish as I have to buy literally everything I need for this project. Today I've gone back to check those prices and it'd cost me something like £40, but I haven't added in the exterior effect stuff, nor a hot glue gun - which I could do with to join the foam core quickly.

Guess I could make a start on it though...