AK interactive landing gear dust

wpwar11

Anyone ever use this product?  It's an enamel wash.  I want to try it on my 1/32 Corsair build.  What's the best way to apply it and remove it?  Does it work better on a matte surface or gloss?  I can't find a single tutorial using this on actual landing gear or tires.

Thanks 

What's the medium, the carrier liquid?  If it's an enamel wash, I suspect the liquid is a petroleum distillate, mineral spirits.  So I'd look for info on using enamels and mineral spirits to make washes.

I've used AK engine stains and oil stains, and I've just applied them over my acrylic gloss coats, and wiped away the excess with a piece of paper toweling or cotton swabs.  Just as I do when I make washes with enamels and paint thinners.

Others may have better advice for you, based on their own experience.

Best regards,

Brad

An easy alternative is to rub a pencil point on sandpaper. use a brush to apply dust like pastel powders.

rocketman2000

An easy alternative is to rub a pencil point on sandpaper. use a brush to apply dust like pastel powders.

Same can be done with regular barbecue charcoal. It's a little less smeary than pencil graphite, can be 'brushed away' to a desired level.

As to the original questions...if the AK stuff is in a fluid carrier of some sort, applying over a gloss surface is likely to be best. If applied on a matte/flat surface, you may get 'creep' that will end up leaving what looks more like a stain with defined (and difficult-to-remove) edges.

Cheers

Brad-I discovered the excess can be wiped away with enamel thinner.  So your right on its properties.  Looks like it works much like the AK engine grease stuff.  Thanks man.

Don- Haven't tried the pencil dust trick yet.  I know it can be effective.

Greg- I commented once on your charcoal technique for soot, gun smoke, and such.  It's very convincing.

There is a cheap source for many pastel colors.  Hardware stores carry fine ground pastel colors for coloring plaster.  Huge packages- lifetime supply.

Yeah, as far as pastel chalks go, I got myself a set of earth colors for ten bucks at a local art supply store.  The colors range from dark browns, over reddish browns and rusts, to a light brown, with a dark yellow and a stick of black.  I just scrape off however much I need with the back of a knife blade, then apply the powder with a brush.  I also mix it with a drop of water and a drop of dishwashing liquid into a sludge that I can apply, and when it dries, it looks like dried mud.

I've used powdered graphite, too, brushed on or rubbed on gun barrels.  I've also used regular white blackboard chalk at times.

Very versatile.