Weathering Products

Weathering products add realistic wear, dirt, rust and fading to a finished paint job, taking a model from “toy-like” to genuinely lifelike. They’re especially popular on military vehicles, aircraft and any subject that would naturally show grime or age. Our Weathering Products range covers washes, pigments and filters for exactly this purpose.

A wash is a thinned, dark paint that flows into recesses to add shadow and depth. Pigments are fine, dry powders applied dry or wet to simulate dust, mud or rust build-up. Filters are heavily thinned paint applied in a fine layer to subtly shift a model’s overall colour tone. Each technique layers well on top of the others for a realistic finish.

No, washes, pigments and many filter techniques can all be applied by brush, making weathering accessible without any airbrush equipment. An airbrush does make certain effects, like fine filters or fading, faster and more even. Start with brush-applied washes and pigments before considering an airbrush for weathering specifically.

A simple panel line wash, applied into recesses and wiped back from raised surfaces, is the easiest and most forgiving technique to start with. It adds instant depth and definition with minimal risk of spoiling the base coat. Our Weathering Products range includes ready-mixed washes designed for exactly this.

Yes, washes, pigments and filters work well over cured paint on plastic, metal and resin alike, provided the base coat is fully dry and, ideally, sealed with a varnish first. A gloss varnish helps a wash flow smoothly into recesses rather than staining the surrounding surface. Always test techniques on a spare part or the underside of the model first.

A matt or satin varnish applied over finished weathering locks pigments and washes in place, preventing them from smudging with handling. Apply it gently, as heavy-handed brushing can disturb loose pigment powders before they’re sealed. Our Model Paints & Varnishes range includes varnishes suited to this final step.

Mud and dust pigments, rust washes, and streaking filters are particularly effective on military vehicle kits, reflecting how these subjects would realistically look in service. Combining several techniques, mud on the lower hull, rust on exposed metal, dust over the whole vehicle, gives the most convincing result. Check our Plastic Models Kits & Figures FAQs for more on the military vehicle kits these techniques suit best.