As usual this is probably a repeat topic, but perhaps not. What is the best way to seal and preserve the look of your weathering application with pastel powder. I have found that I get it looking just right and try and seal it with a dull coat spray and it disappears almost completely. While in most instances that may be the desired effect, not in this case. I am doing a diorama of the Death Valley 20 Mule Team using that old kit you can buy in Death Valley or at the museum in Boron. The team is crossing the mojave desert and is quite covered with dust. You can see clouds of it emanate if you just slap your hat or your pantleg.
Is there a better sealant that doesn’t reduce it so much?
From what Ihave read… no, there isn’t a beeter sealer for that. The top coat will make the pastels mostly disappear. I use pastels after the flat coat. A lot of handling they can rub off but nothing gets handled that much and they can always be touched up or reapplied.
Rats, that is what I was beginning to conclude. Beyond that I have been playing with re-applications and long distance spraying the sealer to keep it to an absolute minimum. That is producing some results. Also, by re-applying the pastels when it is about half dry.
Sounds like an opportunity for a brilliant chemical engineer to come up with a new product!
The secret is to “over weather” with your pastels. In other words, when you reach the stage that it looks “right”, keep on adding pastels until it looks like it’s too much or too intense and then paint your topcoat over it. Done properly (it do take practice) the overcoat will tone down the weathering effect until it looks right
You might give a thought to applying the “dusty look” with an airbrush - a lot of RR modelers do this very effectively. Simply thin down the color you’re using for the dust and spray it on the object you’re weathering from a distance. Again practice is necessary to get it right. That’s why I have 1/2 dozen “paint hulks” around my modeling area.
Has anyone tries using the new tamiya weathering master? looks like a makeup kit with 3 colors… does wonders to weathering. unlike pastel chalks it does not come off easily…
I’ve just bought some Mig weathering pigments. The instructions that come with it suggest using a drop of white spirit dripped over the pigment to seal it. I’ve never tried this technique yet or can confirm if it will be the same for pastels, but you can only try.
The pastels don’t disappear…the subtle effect they give gets altered by the sealer. Pastels usually go on with a super flat effect, providing for the contrast against the rest of the finish, that makes them look so good. They only thing I have ever heard is - re-apply after handling.