8 Tips to get realistic effects with Dirty Down Moss

[@goblinshut]

This is one of the best tutorials I've seen on dirty down use in general. It touches on all the key elements and to get best results - shaking, heat, and different application methods very succinctly! Love it!

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Thanks mate, really appreciate that!

[@SirusV88]

First time finding this product and this guy displays it's greatly.

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Thanks!

[@printitpaintit.2436]

I found the best way to warm up dirty down products was to place the bottles in warm water for a few minutes!

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Yes I can see that working nicely as well. Thanks for the tip!

[@printitpaintit.2436]

@@FlyingRavenStudios Your welcome and if you haven't already got one I'd definitely recommend the green stuff would paint spinner as it can fit dirt down bottles and it works great!

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Thanks I will take a look 👍

[@parazatico9030]

Very interesting, as always. I particularly liked the water/algae effect, and you can never have too much slime and toxic goo, can you?

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Thanks Parazatico. Yeah that was interesting to play with... and no... you never can have enough toxic goo 😆

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

What other ideas do you have to use this Dirty Down Water soluble Moss effect paint?

[@beaker126]

I've found dry weathering powders are great for adding little variations to the main color. Also, another great way to add texture is to put a thin layer of plastic cement on the part, then stipple it with a cheap and expendable stiff brush.

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Love the idea of using the plastic cement to create the texture before applying the effect paint

[@s7r49]

wow it looks really cool on and beneath the water that was neat

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Yeah works well doesn't it!

[@astrocat1128]

I was waiting to see the cobblestone after effect and then it was gone and then a few seconds near the end and lol

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Oops sorry about that!

[@marcoherreras6536]

Extremely useful, thank you!

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Glad it was helpful!

[@FrogGKnight]

Dude, great video. Thank you so much!!

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Thanks and you're welcome!!

[@MrAcuta73]

"Moss effect" really should be called "Algae/Lichen effect", would be much more accurate. This isn't to say I don't love that stuff, I certainly do! And thanks to videos like this, I keep finding more and more cool uses for it!

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Yes that could be a fair assessment to be fair 😁. Let me know if you find any other interesting uses!

[@MisterHampshire]

Thank you for this video. I am an aircraft modeller and wanted to dab some moss on to some upper surfaces to make an aircraft look like it had been outside and untouched for years; a couple of weeks ago I tried some of this moss and just couldn't get the effect others were getting. Once you'd said that the paint doesn't create it's own 3D result that explained things: I had been labouring under the impression that, as it dried, so it would 'pull up' as it were. I know now it doesn't. Do you think that thick oil paint stippled on smooth surfaces, which would give that surface some texture, then the moss paint dabbed on top work?

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Glad I could help so far. As for using oil paint to create texture... possibly.... but I would definitely suggest doing a test piece before applying it to your project. Strangely, I was actually thinking about this earlier today after spotting different types of moss when I was walking the dog. Let me do some tests and I will come back to you if that's OK?

[@MisterHampshire]

@@FlyingRavenStudios surely, thank you. I bought some dark green oil paint from The Range the other week and oddly it sort of gives the effect I want, but the Dirty Down moss looked better, at least on video (the rust I've tried does look good). I have some scrap aircraft bits I can use as a 'mule'. As I model 1/48 aircraft there does need to be some sort of texture there, unlike 1/72 scale where that is arguably less critical.

[@oscarjames2004]

Hi mate, ive looked everywhere online and this seems to be the only example of the use of ddm ontop of clear resin. I tried it for myself this evening and am going to experiment more, but i found it basically just clouded the surface (unsurprising as a matt fluid) without going green as expected. I'm going to experiment more, as its possible the bottle had cooled by then, or that my application was flawed. Just wondered if you had any tips how you achieved the surface algae effect?

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Hi.... hmmm thats interesting. Normally the effect not developing is down to the dirty down paint not being mixed up enough. You need to really mix it up. The second common variable is the temperature like you say. It does need to be in the goldilocks zone of not being too hot or too cold. If both of those are ok, maybe it was the surface you were putting it on? In my example, I used AK interactive still water which is acrylic based. What were you using it with? Could it be reacting to the resin??

[@miguelangelpicazo7130]

hola, yo quiero preguntar , donde puedo comprar este producto o similar en España? gracias

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Hi Miguel, great question. All I can suggest at the moment for getting this product in Spain is Amazon (link is in the description). Let me know if that doesn't work and I will see what I can find for you.

[@kendo5862]

Really inconsistent for me … looked great once then naff most other times … even with a good shake and warming surface. Might try again with warming bottle itself

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

It certainly can be a bit of a diva. Yes, definitely give gently warming it a go and let me know how you get on?

[@madMARTYNmarsh1981]

It's 0°C in my house today, I've tried heating the model and Dirty down with a hairdryer but they get too cold very quickly so I've basically ruined my Bazdrogg Nekk-Choppa. Gutted.

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Oh no! Can you take the dirty down off with water?

[@madMARTYNmarsh1981]

@Flying Raven Studios I'm trying but I made the mistake of thinking more layers would activate the effect, it hasn't. I tried wiping it off with water (and some IPA seperately) and now the dirty down is smeared all over the place. At least he will look weathered 😂

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

No, unfortunately, more layers just builds on the previously activated layers. But yes, he will look awesomely weathered! Hopefully once it is fully dry you can touch it up. Then once it's a bit warmer you can get the final effect you want.

[@madMARTYNmarsh1981]

@Flying Raven Studios as you know, it's rather cold in England at the best of times, it's ruddy freezing today (it was actually colder in my house than it was outside this morning; -4°C out and -8°C in my frontroom... how does that work!) and will be for months so I might put the model aside until the weather changes (in many, many months) and we get that rare bit of sunshine. At least I'll have plenty of time to learn from your videos, I'm finding your videos as helpful as Vince Venturella so you have my gratitude.

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Yes the temperature had seriously dropped off over the last week or so hasn't it! If you want to use the Dirty Down, leaving it till it's a bit warmer sounds a smart idea. I'm really glad I can help... and as for being as helpful as the mighty Vince, that's quite an honour thank you. Take care of yourself, stay warm and all the best. Jon

[@nidhoggvomwalde2280]

Didn't work on my minis.

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Yeah this stuff is very temperamental. Did you put the bottle in your pocket for half an hour or so to warm it up, then shake / stir it up fully?

[@nidhoggvomwalde2280]

@@FlyingRavenStudios u always need to mix it heavily before use. I use a stick and because it's takes some time I need to refill the bottle with some alcohol. The problem with the moss is, the effect doesn't really come out. Rust and verdigris work.

[@JB-zw3pl]

You didnt even mention how to get it warm though.

[@FlyingRavenStudios]

Check out tip 4 again. Answer is in there 😊

[@JB-zw3pl]

@@FlyingRavenStudios my bad i missed it :)