Hi all!! I was looking through a modeling accessory Mag. and saw a sponge applicator for weathering powders. I have always applied them with a brush with O.K. results, but I end up wasting some and beating the heck out of the brush trying to get the effect I want.Anyway the sponge app. looked good but still too big for what I wanted. Being divorced I had no make-up sponges around and didn’t feel like going to the store when I thought I’d fiddle around. I was pleasantly surprised with what worked out.
First, use a tube of some sort, I’m using a plastic cotton swab because the size is perfect plus super cheap.
Then take a piece of elcheapo sponge, enough to cram down the tube with plenty left on top. At first I tried an adhesive but found they all hardend the sponge. If you cram it down far enough it stays fine.
Next trim the sponge to what ever size you want. Larger for general coverage, or smaller for more precise application.
Now you can easily put a little powder in the top and rub the sponge down on the pigment. The sponge really grabs the powder well and there’s no mess or wasted powder. I’ve even found you can custom mix different colors just by dipping the sponge in two colors and it didn’t transfer one to the other container. Once the color is on the sponge you can really control the effect and size of the pigment you want.
Maybe give this a try , it’s CHEAP and easy and it mkes those powders go even farther. Have fun!!![2c]
I’m married so you can imagine how many sponges are available to me. A nice idea as I use plenty of weathering powders as most of my models are weathered as I like that look. Tks for the info.
What did you do?.. strap the camera to your face? [(-D] That’s cool. Nice pics. Great job on the model too.
I use one of those white Testors ultra cheap brushes with the bristles cut down to 3/32" so it’s stiff enough. It never really loads up because you can knock all the powder out of those bristles.
Yes, I have a wife and three daughters, so it was nothing but QCK for a long time! (Q-Tips/Cotton Balls/Kotex’s) Only one daughter remains in house, but the memories linger. [:o] [:D]
That looks like a great, and best of all, CHEAP form of pastel applicators. I think it was in the FSM forum where someone mentioned using those microbrushes to apply weathering pastels to cockpits, wheel wells, etc. That’s what I’ve been using if I need a precise application of weathering pastels. However, I like your idea because it’s a lot cheaper than buying the brushes! That’s why I’ve been reusing the same microbrush for the past several models. Ha-ha-ha!
This was one of my few bright ideas that worked!!(don’t have space to write about my bright ones that didn’t) I used those small app brushes too but got tired of the price for plasyic & fibre!! Plus I think you can control the pigs. better with this. Thanks for the replies!!
Oh ya I forgot, I did a price coparrison---- App brushes at my LHS—$1.29 for 10----500 plastic swabs at Walmart $1.19, 6 " x 4" sponge 29c x 2----- homemade Elcheapo applicators----PRICELESS!!
