I use this kit as part of an intermediate water stop / coaling station. Although painting this model is not required but since it is a kit, I opted for some paint on mine. I model SP and although this structure has a yellow color it's too sharp and not quite right for the SP, so I painted the walls yellow ocher, doors and frames brown and the roof a faded green, all of which provides texture over colored plastic. To do the underside of the freight ramp I combined some grimy black paint with some GN blue and little white to give the base a creosoted look, and some patches of grey on the top of the deck with a wood color paint for the rest. You wind up with a great model that looks terrific for under $45 including the paint which will last a long time in the bottle for that which you don't use. It turned out right for me so I can recommend it to others.