Product FAQ

I do not have an airbrush, is this product useful for me?

To achieve exciting and subtle dusting effects, you will need an airbrush. For subtle dusting effects, in case you don’t have one, opt for something from the range of traditional pigments. However, this is still a great product for diorama or military modelers. This product is lovely for terrain painting and has plenty of sponge or brush usage. When dry, it is ultra-matte and does not require any additional fixation. You can make splashes and splatters with a brush and toothpick. Rusty colors do not need an airbrush at all. You can create awesome effects only with the sponge technique.

How do you use these paints, can you give some tips?

Tips for airbrush use:

Paint prepared for use without dilution. There is a steel ball in the bottle; shake up and down until all the pigment from the bottom is dissolved into the paint. If the pipette does not dispense a drop, it may have been plugged by pigment; pierce the hole with a thin wire. Close the cap and shake again for a few seconds. The model should already be prefinished after wash and other procedures like varnishing. Weathering Paints do not have to be covered with any varnish; it is not necessary.

Light dusting, transparent effect: We recommend a pressure of around 1 bar (15 PSI) for a standard 0.3 nozzle. Apply the product in thin layers, drying with an air dryer until you are satisfied with the coverage. For a realistic dust gradient, finish each layer slightly lower.

Heavy dusting, accumulated dirt: You can increase the pressure to around 1.5 – 1.8 bar (22 – 25 PSI). In this case, you can hold the spray even while heavily flooding the painted part. While drying, the pigment will settle realistically. Use a blow dryer to speed up the work, but be careful not to splash the paint unless that is your desired effect. (Hint; an interesting effect around the wheel arches can be achieved by laying down a thick wet layer of Weathering Paint and then blowing it with airbrush air, creating streaks and splashes of paint on the surface).

For a realistic dust gradient, finish each layer slightly lower.

Airbrush Cleaning:

After work, pre-wash the airbrush with hot water, then clean with “Airb-care cleaner.”

Tips for using with brushes or sponge:

Choose rather old brushes dedicated only for weathering. The more frayed the brush, the better. Do not make strokes; tap the brush against the surface for a more natural effect. Weathering Paints can be thickened with Modellers World sand, for example, to make mud. You can add Pigment Cement glue to this. You can also modulate applied mud when dry on your model or diorama by painting successive layers of Weathering Paints with an airbrush, gently changing the shade of the paint. For example, if you were making mud from “Weathering paint: Dried standard heavy mud,” add a few drops of “Light mud…” or “Sandy dust” to that color and repaint the areas you want to lighten. You will get an artistic effect, which is impossible to get with ready-made pastes. In the end, if you’re going to get the result of wet mud, spray a glossy varnish on it. With these methods, you have an endless array of possibilities with just a few products!

Cleaning the brushes: 

Wash in warm water, then with “Brush care shampoo.” If you forgot to do this right away and paint dried, soak the brush in hot water with “Airb-care cleaner” for a few hours.