Modeling pigments for weathering and effects

Modeling pigments for weathering and effects

Creating believable wear, depth, and terrain on miniatures and scale models is easier when you start with the right modeling pigments. This collection brings together finely milled powders designed to deliver natural tones, textures, and aging on armor, aircraft, vehicles, figures, dioramas, and wargaming bases. You’ll find classic earth colors, metallics, fluorescents, and specialty sets that make professional finishing both faster and more consistent.

What’s in this collection

• Core earth tones for dust, mud, soot, rust, and faded soil—ideal for military subjects and dioramas.
• AMMO by MIG lines including the standard range, Rail Center for railway grime and ballast tones, and Wargaming colors for vibrant bases and fantasy/sci-fi scenes.
• Jacquard Pearl-Ex and other specialty pigments that add metallic, pearlescent, or iridescent effects for creative finishes.
• Complete sets curated by theme (Industrial, Cold/Warm tones, Seasonal dust, Region-specific soils) to speed up color selection.

Each product has been chosen for consistency, coverage, and ease of blending—so you can build up convincing layers without masking underlying paintwork.

Why modelers choose modeling pigments

Pigments behave differently from paints: they’re dry powders that can be applied loose for subtle tinting or fixed with binders for durable textures. That flexibility makes modeling pigments the go-to solution for natural weathering.

• Ultra-fine grind for smooth application and precise control.
• High transparency when applied dry; rich body when mixed with binders or thinners.
• Layerable results that won’t obscure panel lines or small details.
• Compatible systems—work perfectly with acrylic, lacquer, and enamel workflows.

Practical ways to use pigments

• Dust road wheels, tracks, and lower hulls with light earth tones; fix with a dedicated pigment fixer or enamel thinner.
• Build rust by layering orange and brown shades; tap on darker tones around bolts and seams for depth.
• Create soot and exhaust stains with black and dark grey, feathering outward for realistic heat streaks.
• Add metallic wear by mixing metallic pigment into a binder and stippling onto edges and high-traffic areas.
• For wargaming bases, blend earth tones with small amounts of green or ochre, then seal to withstand tabletop handling.
• On railway subjects, combine Rail Center ballast dust with grime and oxide tones to match regional track colors.

Tips for pro results

• Start dry; fix only when you’re satisfied with placement and intensity.
• Use soft brushes for broad dusting and stiff brushes for textured buildup.
• Mix pigments with acrylic medium for mud pastes, or with isopropyl/enamel thinners for stains.
• Vary tones—real dirt is never a single color; blend two or three hues for authenticity.
• Seal lightly with matte varnish if needed, keeping in mind that heavy sealing can slightly darken colors.

Whether you model armor, trains, or tabletop armies, the modeling pigments in this collection give you the control to recreate nature’s complexity—quickly, cleanly, and repeatably.

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