I have to say I didn’t really like working with these dry pigments, even stippling didn’t yield a satisfactory result and the brush always seemed to scoop either too much or too few pigments even when clearing it on the bottle side.
In the end had I had to scrub most of and just left some of it. I ended up kinda good, I actually like the result even if it cleaner than I originally wanted. It’s very subtle and only in some parts, mainly around the handlebars of the top, it ended up very similar to the pinwash.
I completely avoided it on the bottom, all the shades I had contrasted really bad with the vallejo mud of the lower hull so I just gave up and scrubbed it from there.
I think I’ll save these pigments for track weathering using a binder, it was way too much effort and it was really stressful with me even thinking I had 100% ruined the model, I guess it is not my cup of tea.
On the plus side, the black pigment really gave the exhausts a nice black.
For my next model, I think I’ll try oils, and this time I will properly paint and varnish the bottom too so I can make tests!
The light is really bad today here, I’ll post some pictures tomorrow.
I think I could really just wrap it up, but I am always open to more suggestions once you see it.
I agree with Wade 1000000% hands on is a valuable tool.
If you go back and look at the paint and weather tutorial . Once the wash was applied with thinned oils , it was not sealed before pigments. There will be a very slight oil residue that will capture the pigments. If done in small amounts with a stippling motion
Anyway I gave it another attempt with a technique I improvised:
I grabbed tiny amounts of pigment with a toothpick, deposited it were I wanted and streaked it downward to make some streaks with a cotton bud.
It think it worked, its still subtle but it looks dirty enough.
I avoided the bottom part as the pigment has a brown tint that is very different from the track mud so I tried to make the transition less abrupt and left the bottom hull mostly untouched.
Hopefully tomorrow will be sunny day and I can show you a proper picture.
This morning I noticed the pigment almost took a different hue, almost reddish, despite being dark brown.
Don’t know if it is good, it might also pass for a light rust:
@Nightgaunt I think the model is looking good. The model looks good in a technical sense with quality basic construction. The paint and decal application are well done.
Weathering is always a combination of personal taste, artistic license and search for realistic appearance. With that in mind, it’s always harder to provide quality feedback based on pictures versus seeing in real life.
There are two small tweaks I would apply if this excellent model were my model.
Carefully paint & gloss headlight lens
A very thin very light airbrush applied dust or dirt colored filter to blend the contrast a little. If you like model as is then certainly feel free to disregard his suggestion.
I really don’t use the current internet acrylic paint darlings so can’t really suggest a specific recipe for the filter.
Probably a light Buff color with 30 to 40 parts thinner to 1 part paint. Test on scrap first of course.
In my enamel paint world a filter mix of 40 parts thinner 1 part Floquil Dirt would be my starting point. Probably two coats on running gear and one coat on hull. Followed with filter mix of 40 parts thinner 1 part Floquil Dust. One coat over the sides and top of model.
Thanks for the feedback.
As long as the pigment color is fine, I would like to avoid further messing.
By the way, some guy made me notice that the mantlet/barrel are a little shiny and look like a different color.
It’s not as sharp in real life but the shininess is definitely there. Maybe it needs a further matte coat?
I surely went a little over the top on the sides/top to preserve the paint, I probably gave less coats on the barrel.
EDIT: looking at it now the barrel looks fine, perhaps it just need some pigment too.
I agree with the above . The technical aspects do not appear to need any extra work.
The mud while heavy for my taste without a base thats also muddy , is well done and has good continuity. It appears to be where it should be and does not exceed that. That part is difficult to do allot of times. Yours is well done.
Pigment is something that requires a little practice and you are well on the way to getting it.
At this point my only gripe is the pigment color. Do you think that brown/reddish hue is natural enough or jarring? The pigment was brown, it looked like coffee powder, I really didn’t expect such effect in the morning.
@Chris_Bryan@Armor_Buff, I think I came to terms with the pigment color, afterall it’s not supposed to be the same grime coating the tracks (which might have been more recent and not that splashy) so perhaps the contrast is fine.
I did some final touches adding more pigment on the top, on the mantlet, fuel tanks and engine compartment. I tried to go as light as possible, especially on the top where I focused on edges and places were the crew would have walked.
As usual, the colors in the pictures are all over the place and the difference in the grime color is much less jarring (it seems the sensor really enhances the reddish tone of the pigment) but here it is:
What do you think? I am quite happy with the result and I am really getting the hang of using pigments, I think this toothpick + cotton bud thing I made up really works good, even for streaking.
@Nightgaunt . That is a huge evolutionary leap in skills. It does seem that you are really getting the hang of it.
Make sure you keep that model in a good safe place . Then compare it to your work in 3 months and then 6 months and a year and you will be surprised . I promise that.
You have demonstrated that questions are good.
Remember the only person you have to compete with is yourself.
As long as you are happy with it , that is all that matters. Just my opinion , it looks good.
Thanks guys, couldn’t have made it without your help!
For now, I placed it on a small wooden base, it was a really cheap artist’ wood meant to be decorated but I got it mostly to carry the model without touching it.
Now I am starting having ideas about it, I thought about placing some mud on it but that Vallejo mud is expensive and I really don’t want to waste it on a wooden plank.
I also thought about using real soil, but really don’t know how fix it and how to make it match the mud on the tracks.
I read many people make fake mud mixing real dirt, vinylic glue and some brown color…
I also have some other questions:
I actually have not ever thought about were placinng the model.
I have no glass cabinet and no place to buy one, so it will probably sit on a shelf and gain dust.
Now, the pigment seem well settled, but I fear that dusting might dislodge some of it.
So, how do you clean them? I was thinking about a “swiffer” rag that supposedly “grabs” dust like a magnet, but I wonder how it will react with the pigment.
Also, I was thinking of giving it another matte coat on top of the pigment…it might scrub it but it also might improve the color I wonder…
As @Tank_1812 Ryan said, most important is if you’re happy with the model
Excellent work! As @Chris_Bryan Chris said regarding the learning curve and improving skills with each project
Same here, no glass cabinets. Just old bookshelves. Plastic wrap taped over the front of the shelves to keep dust out. It’s worked pretty well for many years.
Definitely understand. Shelves have to be some where they aren’t visible Basic out of sight out of mind.
Something like a good size Sterlite container can also work. I’ve seen them used to transport models to shows as well. Bottom lined with sheet of insulation foam. Model mounted on base. Toothpicks hold base in place on insulation foam.
That container is a good idea, I will try to find one with clearer sides, I love looking at my ISU
In case I do not find it, I see that the pigment really sticks to the surface, I grounded it very fine and energically spreaded it good with the cotton swab…it think it COULD handle a light dusting.
.
Basic out of sight out of mind.
