This is my latest version of the iconic Up house from the Pixar movie Up. I’ve built several versions over the years in different scales—even before the film premiered in theaters. My first models were based on promotional photos and the movie trailer, which offered only limited views. As a result, I made a few mistakes in the early designs. Still, those first photos ended up inspiring other builders to create their own versions. I’ve finally decided to build a new and more accurate version, and you can watch the entire process in this video on Youtube:
Painting the Up House model
Here’s the full list of paints I used for this build—all Vallejo acrylics I’ve collected over the years. I use them in most of my projects, and the bottles keep the paint fresh. In fact, the lime green on this model comes from the same bottle I bought in 2009 for my first tiny Up house!
Lime Green 70.827, Green Yellow 70.881, German Yellow 70.806, Foul Green 72.025, Green Brown 70.979
Deep Sky Blue 70.844, Sand Yellow 70.916, Dark Sand 70.847, Flat Red 70.957, Pink 958,
Salmon Rose 70.835, Flat Flesh 70.955, Sunny Skin Tone 70.845, Brown Rose 70.803, Light Flesh 70.928,
Cork Brown 70.843, Iraqui Sand 70.819, Orange Brown 70.981, Light Rust 301, Chocolate Brown70.872, Wood Grain 70.828, Burnt Umber 71.040, Mahoghany 70.846, German Black Brown 70.822, German Red Brown 70.605 Surface Primer
Up House Walls
The green wall began with Lime Green (70.827), followed by German Yellow (70.806) and Green Yellow (70.881) lines. I added a Burnt Umber (71.040) wash under the boards.
The salmon wall at the entrance used a mix of Salmon Rose (70.835), Brown Rose (70.803) for shading, and Light Flesh (70.928) for highlights.
The pink wall started with Pink (958), a Burnt Umber (71.040) wash under the boards, and highlights with Light Flesh (70.928) and white.
The brown walls began with Cork Brown (70.843), washed with Chocolate Brown (70.872), Wood Grain (70.828), and Burnt Umber (71.040). I finished with a Medium Grey (70.987) dry brush.
The blue walls used Deep Sky Blue (70.844) mixed with white, with shadows from German Black Brown (70.822).
The yellow wall had a Sand Yellow (70.916) base, shadowed with Orange Brown (70.981), and highlighted with white. I added Burnt Umber (71.040) on the shingled section for shadows.
Finally, I applied Natural Umber (73.109) dry pigment in corners, sealed it with matte clear coat, and added black and umber pin washes.
Windows and Porch wood of the Up house
I began with Dark Sand (70.847) as the base and added wood grain details using Cork Brown (70.843) and Burnt Umber (71.040). I blended these with a white dry brush, then added more lines and blended again. To finish, I deepened the shadows with Natural Umber (73.109) dry powder and an Umber oil pin wash. The frames are primarily Pink (958), brightened with some white.
Door
I started with German Red Brown 70.605 primer and built the brown with Wood Grain 70.828, Chocolate Brown 70.872and dry brush with Cork Brown 70.843. I added glaze with very diluted Mahoghany 70.846 on front door and Orange Brown 70.981.
Roof
I started by applying German Red Brown Primer (70.605). Once it dried, I dry brushed it with Cork Brown (70.843) to highlight the surface texture. A diluted German Black Brown (70.822) wash added shadows in scratches and under shingles. To vary the wood tones, I used washes of Burnt Umber (71.040), Wood Grain (70.828), and Chocolate Brown (70.872), repeating dry brushing and washes in places for more depth. To finish, I added a black pin wash using oil paint to emphasize specific details and create subtle streaks of accumulated dirt. Under the chimney and beneath the metal rooster weathervane, I added streaks using a mix of Sky Blue (70.961) and Foul Green (72.025) for a weathered effect.
Wooden Rafters
I painted the wooden rafters with Deep Sky Blue (70.844), added shadows using a wash of German Black Brown (70.822), and highlighted them with a white dry brush. For the rear section, I used Sand Yellow (70.916) and applied a white dry brush for highlights.
Chimney
Primed with Red Brown Primer 70.605 and dry brushed some bricks with Flat Red 70.957, Light Rust 301and Brown Rose 70.803
Dormer window
I painted the dormer window with a mix of Flat Flesh (70.955), Sunny Skin Tone (70.845), and Sand Yellow (70.916).
Under the Up house
I started with base color Iraqui Sand 70.819 and added washes with Burnt Umber 71.040, German Black Brown 70.822. I added the dry pigments Brown Iron Oxide 73.108 and Natural Umber 73.109. Some joists got Mahoghany 70.846 wash. Pipes were painted with mix of Black and Grey and weathered with dry pigments and some White and Rusty dry brush.
That is all I remember. It will be also great resource for me in future when I decide to build even more accurate version. I already started kit version with few improvements and interiors of the living room but life stands on my way in finishing it. I was planning to test the first copy and record it in few Youtube episodes so it will act as instructions.
