Dry-brushing with pigments

Adhesion will be poor at best. Keep in mind that so-called modeling pigments or pastel powers are much, much more coarse than pigments in paints.

For dry-brushing, enamels or oil paints give better results because they have finer pigments and are slow to dry. I use only acrylics except for dry-brushing, for which I use MM enamels.  

From what you are saying,what I would do is use the metal colored pigments on the high areas and guide teeth after you paint  to show wear,or dry brush with metallic paint

Try Tamiya Weathering Master. It's very similar to what you are referring to. It's more like a paste rather than a dry pigment. There are 4 different kits, that I've seen, with 3 colors in each. Silver is one of the colors and it's probably the one you would want for your situation. There are other colors you might be able to use such as rust, gunmetal, mud, and oil stain among others. Each kit comes with an applicator that has a foam tip, like the kind used in cosmetics, on one end and a brush on the other. They work pretty good.

Tamiya Weathering Master is great!  Although I own about 15 MIG & AK pigment products, I mostly use the Tamiya stuff nowadays.  

Thanks guys. I was thinking enamel dry-brush initially, but I was concerned about using enamels on vinyl, even if it's a very tiny amount. I saw here on the forum where a guy built a Sherman and used pigments mixed with Tamiya acrylic thinner on the raw vinyl tracks, and the results were excellent. He said there was a small amount of flaking when he installed them, but touch up was easy. I don't know if I want to go that route though

JimNTENN, I was actually looking at those Tamiya tri-color weathering kits the other day, and was seriously considering getting some. I wasn't sure about how dry the pigments were though, so you answered a big question I had about them. Thanks for that! I just did some checking around on them and they look like just what I need. I wonder how well that stuff would stick to the un-primered vinyl? They look like they even take a sealer well

Don't know how well they would do on unpainted vinyl because I've never tried. I've never tried them on any unpainted surface for that matter. If nothing else you could probably apply a layer of clear flat to the tracks before applying the Weathering Master colors. You'd just have to try it both ways to see what works best.

Heck, I think I'll just go ahead and hit 'em with an acrylic base coat for good measure

Chrisk-k, I just saw your post after I submitted mine. I thought I had read in another thread I searched that you used the Tamiya stuff. Those little tri-color kits get lots of rave reviews. I think you guys helped me find exactly what I'm looking for. I gotta say, I'm pretty impressed with Tamiya's quality overall. Their products just usually seem to be pretty good, and functional throughout a wide range of skill-levels

Hobby Lobby sells Tamiya weathering stuff.  With a 40% off coupon, you'd pay $7-8.

Yep, I got my weathering kits at Hobby Lobby.

There are pigments which are very finely ground available.  For a really fine rust pigment, jeweler's rouge is not as widely available as it used to be, but does make a nice dry brushed pigment for rust stains.  Some hardware stores have various pigments used to tint plaster which are usually pretty fine.

At the risk of hijacking jetmakers thread here, though I've had success with the Tamiya weathering master's foam applicator, have had no luck at all with the brush. Any tips on how to use it? Sometimes I wonder if my stuff has gotten dry? Hope not, haven't had it very long.

Greg, I haven't yet tried using the brush. It does say in the Usage Directions that comes in the kit that the brush can be used to brush powder onto the model in the recessed areas where dust and dirt would accumulate. I'm wondering if it would also be useful to apply a much lighter "dusting" over a larger surface area with the brush thus giving a more scattered affect. Maybe one of these days I'll find a situation where I can test the brush out to see how best to use it.

Greg, hijack away! I'm actually very curious about the Weathering Master kits. Great reviews about the materials, but not so much about the brush that comes with. I'm wondering if anyone has mixed other colors with them? And how, if so, did it turn out?

I apply a small amount of Tamiya weathering stuff with its foam applicator. Then, I use its brush to spread out (i.e., thin) the pigments.

I certainly never thought of using the brush to spread it out like that. I'll have to try that.

JimNTENN

I certainly never thought of using the brush to spread it out like that. I'll have to try that.

Ditto that. Thanks for the great tip, Chris! My problem has been I can't get the pigment to transfer to the brush. Your idea should solve that.

It is easy for me to get bit heavy handed with the foam applicator. Look forward to trying your idea.

Thanks for being tolerant, jetmaker. :) FWIW, Hobby Lobby only recently started carrying the Tamiya Weathering Master, so far as I know. I was delighted.

Ha, it's all good Greg! I was wondering about Hobby Lobby because I searched their site and didn't find them. Since I'm off work tomorrow I'm going to head to the local store and see if they got 'em on the shelf

Be sure to print a 40% off coupon from HL's web site!

I couldn't get the pigments to transfer to the brush, either. The foam applicator sometimes carries too much. So, I thought, "Why not dust off with the brush?"

Hey There Gents, I have used the Tamiya weathering sets for quite some time and love them. Yes, you can mix them with an acrylic thinner for all sorts of effects. I have not found the supplied brush useful at all but rather a stiffer paint brush works well. Here is a link to the Tamiya site that provides some useful tips for using them.

www.tamiya.com/.../87080weathering

I've used the sets and the only way I found to use the brush was by grinding up the pigment first with a toothpick or something similar and dabbing the brush in it to transfer to the model. By grinding I mean very lightly just to crumble away a little of the color for the brush to pick up.

One more thing to add. Water or A-20 acrylic thinner is great for smearing the weather sticks and kits. Especially the mud and soot.

Great tips! Never thought to use thinner or water, or to grind the pigment up.

Thanks Joe and MIke! (and also for the useful link, Joe)

And a 'be carefu'l tip from me: Few months back I got a bit too aggressive cleaning the foam applicator. I clean under running warm water and soap. The foam tip fell off, it is not secured very well. Just occurred to me can probably CA it back on.

Jetmaker, I'll be curious if your local HL has them. Hope I didn't send you on a wild goose chase. My store started out with one of the sets late last summer, now they stock 4 of them. A,B,C, and D I'm guessing.

Greg, I'll let you know what I find. I hope I get there today, but I'm stuck for a bit, waiting on an HVAC call while my folks are out and about

These are great tips indeed! I've been reading a lot of people who use the kits are picking up packs of regular make-up brushes and having good luck with those. They're cheap too! Since they can be thinned out with Tamiya thinner, I wonder if they would mix well with Tamiya paints? I can see a lot of possibilities with these!

Alright, I just got back from Hobby Lobby, and they did have the kits! A, B, C, and D in fact. I didn't pick any up because I had a bunch of other stuff to get, and I'm not to that point in my build yet. But, I am definitely going to get these. The colors look SO much better in person than they do on the internet. I think these will be ideal for my first go at weathering. I'll probably pick up a pack of make-up brushes to go with

I bought a pack of 100 makeup sponge brushes for $3 on eBay last year. They are great for applying pigments and the Tamiya stuff as well as applying paint chips. The best $3 I've ever spent for my hobby.

Edited to add: I mix the Tamiya weathering stuff with Tamiya acrylic thinner or Mona Lisa Odorless Mineral Spirits when I need a subtle effect.  You can mix it with water, but Tamiya thinner or Mona Lisa simply works better.

Great news! Glad I didn't send you on that wild goose chase I mentioned. The colors do look better in person, I agree. Even better on your model.

Don't forget the coupon Chris mentioned when you decide it's time. :)

I didn't do coupons 3 yrs ago, my new significant other changed that. :)

Chris, that's a neat idea, thanks! (then I don't have to worry about the sponge head falling off the little applicator) :)

This is exactly the same sponge applicator that I bought last year.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-Cosmetic-Makeup-Eye-Shadow-Eyeliner-stick-Sponge-Tool-Brush-Applicator-tip-/190896726420?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item2c7254e194

10 for $0.99.  In effect, 20 for $0.99.

It just feels and works like the Tamiya applicator (and my wife's more expensive ones).  Sponges are sponges.

Thanks for the link, Chris. Didn't realise the makeup sponges are so similar to the Tamiya ones. Now am definitely getting some.

Excuse to go shopping with the boss. And I was just at Sally Beauty Supply the other day with her. Drat!