I have seen these little packages in my LHS and wonderd if anyone had used them (they’re te ones that look like the little makeup things your wife uses). If so how did they work? Ease of use? I’m just getting back into the hobby after a long absence and am looking for “easy” ways of weathering until I can improve my building skills.
Basically the same as your wife puts on makeup lol. Use the brush end to collect powder from the color of your choice and brush the dust onto your model, or use the sponge end to get more of a smear type effect. I find the brush that comes with the kit a little too flimsy, so I use a stiff bristled paintbrush instead. I think they look pretty good, and they stick to the model better than my attempts with pastel chalks have. The sponge applicator is great for adding muddy areas.
They’re not simple powders either. They have a waxy, semi-sticky carrier, which means they stay on a bit better than straight powders. Start with small amounts and add more as needed - you will be surprised by the coverage you get from a small dab in the tray.
Several people have mentioned that the applicator sponge isn’t very durable and wears out rather quickly. When this happens, don’t be tempted to buy a hobby-store replacement. Go to your local supermarket and pick up a pack of make-up applicators instead (typically 10-20 for a couple of bucks). They are almost identical except the original has a brush on the other end.
Awesome little kits, I have the one that has silver, rust and gunmetal and I want the rest of them. They work wonders, I was just messing around when I first got it and grabbed an old P-51 and the silver replicated chipped paint perfectly. I then swiped a GTO my brother had build and rusted out the exhaust. really cool stuff, A little on the pricy side for three colors but I would say worth it for the results you get
I find them very effective for basic weathering. As noted, thet have a slightly waxy texture, but cover very well & stay in place better than pastels or pigments. Worth the $ IMHO. The brush is not the greatest, however Tamiya sells other applicator brushes/sponges separately which are very nice. Kinda pricey at $5 a pop though.
Thanks for the info. For the price (under $10.00 a pop at the LHS) I think I will give them a whirl. As I get more comfortable with my modelling and weathering skills I will try other techniques.
I can’t add much more than what’s already been said but I was real impressed with the powders. First tried them on my M4 Sherman, multiple layers is the key to get the really heavy look.
Except for the obvious “mud” application this was weathered with the Tamiya powders. Worth the money in my opinion.
These are actually fantastic. The brushes they come with are a bit flimsy. You should have seen the look on my girlfriends face when I told her we needed to go to Sally beauty supply to get some more. They’re actually much cheaper at the dollar store. Not a fan of the pastel purple and hot pink colors though. lol.