I was wondering if it’s feasible and/or practical to use pigments with thinner to dry-brush as one would using regular mixed paint?
I do have a particular example in mind: I am considering not priming the vinyl tracks supplied with my M-113, and simply highlighting (dry-brushing) the edges and wear areas - like the horns that go through the road wheels - and the track pads. My main concern is adhesion. Would it be better to prime the tracks with an acrylic base coat? Or, if I don’t prime, would it be better to dry-brush with pigments and acrylic thinner, or with pre-mixed acrylic paint?
Adhesion will be poor at best. Keep in mind that so-called modeling pigments or pastel powers are much, much more coarse than pigments in paints.
For dry-brushing, enamels or oil paints give better results because they have finer pigments and are slow to dry. I use only acrylics except for dry-brushing, for which I use MM enamels.
From what you are saying,what I would do is use the metal colored pigments on the high areas and guide teeth after you paint to show wear,or dry brush with metallic paint
Try Tamiya Weathering Master. It’s very similar to what you are referring to. It’s more like a paste rather than a dry pigment. There are 4 different kits, that I’ve seen, with 3 colors in each. Silver is one of the colors and it’s probably the one you would want for your situation. There are other colors you might be able to use such as rust, gunmetal, mud, and oil stain among others. Each kit comes with an applicator that has a foam tip, like the kind used in cosmetics, on one end and a brush on the other. They work pretty good.
Thanks guys. I was thinking enamel dry-brush initially, but I was concerned about using enamels on vinyl, even if it’s a very tiny amount. I saw here on the forum where a guy built a Sherman and used pigments mixed with Tamiya acrylic thinner on the raw vinyl tracks, and the results were excellent. He said there was a small amount of flaking when he installed them, but touch up was easy. I don’t know if I want to go that route though
JimNTENN, I was actually looking at those Tamiya tri-color weathering kits the other day, and was seriously considering getting some. I wasn’t sure about how dry the pigments were though, so you answered a big question I had about them. Thanks for that! I just did some checking around on them and they look like just what I need. I wonder how well that stuff would stick to the un-primered vinyl? They look like they even take a sealer well
Don’t know how well they would do on unpainted vinyl because I’ve never tried. I’ve never tried them on any unpainted surface for that matter. If nothing else you could probably apply a layer of clear flat to the tracks before applying the Weathering Master colors. You’d just have to try it both ways to see what works best.
Heck, I think I’ll just go ahead and hit 'em with an acrylic base coat for good measure
Chrisk-k, I just saw your post after I submitted mine. I thought I had read in another thread I searched that you used the Tamiya stuff. Those little tri-color kits get lots of rave reviews. I think you guys helped me find exactly what I’m looking for. I gotta say, I’m pretty impressed with Tamiya’s quality overall. Their products just usually seem to be pretty good, and functional throughout a wide range of skill-levels
There are pigments which are very finely ground available. For a really fine rust pigment, jeweler’s rouge is not as widely available as it used to be, but does make a nice dry brushed pigment for rust stains. Some hardware stores have various pigments used to tint plaster which are usually pretty fine.
At the risk of hijacking jetmakers thread here, though I’ve had success with the Tamiya weathering master’s foam applicator, have had no luck at all with the brush. Any tips on how to use it? Sometimes I wonder if my stuff has gotten dry? Hope not, haven’t had it very long.
Greg, I haven’t yet tried using the brush. It does say in the Usage Directions that comes in the kit that the brush can be used to brush powder onto the model in the recessed areas where dust and dirt would accumulate. I’m wondering if it would also be useful to apply a much lighter “dusting” over a larger surface area with the brush thus giving a more scattered affect. Maybe one of these days I’ll find a situation where I can test the brush out to see how best to use it.
Greg, hijack away! I’m actually very curious about the Weathering Master kits. Great reviews about the materials, but not so much about the brush that comes with. I’m wondering if anyone has mixed other colors with them? And how, if so, did it turn out?
Ha, it’s all good Greg! I was wondering about Hobby Lobby because I searched their site and didn’t find them. Since I’m off work tomorrow I’m going to head to the local store and see if they got 'em on the shelf
Be sure to print a 40% off coupon from HL’s web site!
I couldn’t get the pigments to transfer to the brush, either. The foam applicator sometimes carries too much. So, I thought, “Why not dust off with the brush?”
Hey There Gents, I have used the Tamiya weathering sets for quite some time and love them. Yes, you can mix them with an acrylic thinner for all sorts of effects. I have not found the supplied brush useful at all but rather a stiffer paint brush works well. Here is a link to the Tamiya site that provides some useful tips for using them.
FWIW, Hobby Lobby only recently started carrying the Tamiya Weathering Master, so far as I know. I was delighted.