Glossary
Weathering pigment
Fine, chalk-like powder used dry or mixed with a fixer to add dust, dirt, rust, and soot to a model.
Weathering pigments are extremely fine, pre-colored powders, similar in texture to chalk pastel dust, used to add loose dirt, dust, rust staining, and soot to a finished model. Unlike a wash, which is a liquid paint that flows into recessed lines, pigment sits on the surface itself and can be built up, blended, or brushed away to mimic the way real dust and grime actually accumulate on a vehicle, ship, or piece of equipment.
Pigments can be applied dry with a soft brush for a light dusting effect, or mixed with a dedicated fixer, thinner, or even plain water to create a paste for heavier deposits like caked mud around wheel wells or streaking rust below a hatch. Sealing pigment work under a light clear coat afterward keeps it from smudging or rubbing off during normal handling once the build is finished.
A common mistake is applying pigment directly onto glossy or unsealed paint, where it can smear or fail to hold at all without a slightly textured or matte surface to grip. Another is loading too much pigment in one area, which tends to look like a colored powder sitting on top of the model rather than the subtle, gradual buildup it is meant to imitate.