Best way to depict dirt on black boots.

Drybrush in earth tones for a dusty appearance. For heavier dirt/mud, slop on some really thick paint. Add some gloss coat for wet mud, leave flat for dried mud.

Paint, as described above, are great for wear and tear, but for regular, everyday dirt, try chalk pastels. Get some earth tones at a good art store (chalk, not oil) scrape some off the stick to make a fine powder and build up t heeffect from the ground up. The original color and wear will show through and you'll look like your guy has been humping around for days.

Thanks for the responses guys. As far as the pastels go, will they stay on the figures as long as I do not handle them or move them, or is it something I will have to constantly reapply.

Thanks

I actually tried something different and it worked on one of my armor kits. May be a bit extreme for figures, but for really heavy mud, I mixed talcum powder with brown paint and let it get good and gloppy. Then just brushed it on to the tank tracks and voila! Instant mud!

Here's my method...

I use the weathering powders from MMP (www.modelmakerproducts.com), and they're really fine ground chalks (I guess)...I tend to think they're colored talc...

If you want dust, apply them normally...if you want caked-on or heavy mud, dip a brush into a puddle of Future Floor Wax, dip it into the powder, and dab it onto the model. The Future acts as a binder and causes the powder to lump up a bit. If you want a thin layer, simply wipe the excess off with the brush using the same front to back motion a moving leg would simulate. This makes the streaks more realistic. When the Future dries, it holds the powder in place. Hit it with some Dull-cote to lessn the sheen on the Future if you want dried mud. The powders will change colors when they're mixed with the Future...medium Earth goes almost to burnt umber...but once it dries, it reverts back to its original shade.

It also works really well for heavily rusted steel or iron, any place you want a rough textured surface.

Jeff

I love the "Sandy-dirty" look. Just mix some dark brown and dust brown chalk pastells, and apply. When it dries, just swob of the surface of the boots, and it looks like they have walked on the ground. Really efficiant when it is a summer dio..

So long as your not touching the figures Ryan, and handling them by their boots, they'll be ok. You shouldn't have to reapply any of the chalk pastels or mmp powders. I add the last bit of pastel chalks after they are mounted.

I paint my black boots a very dark blue. (Tamiyas field blue or sea blue) this allows for a wash of black to detail the folds and creases of the boots, outline the sole from the upper and to me anyways, looks better from a scale standpoint. It gives them better depth. I use a buff or light grey with a little buff mixed in to cover scuffing on the toe, and heel and then match the dust or mud to the ground effect the figure is mounted to. This is lightly drybrushed for a localized effect.