How to make, use, and fix weathering powder

[@TriptonStudios]

Note don’t buy oil pastels, they won’t work. It has to be chalk pastel, I’ve been using chalk pastel on models for many years

[@MidwinterMinis]

Great point! I maybe should have made that clearer. I've HEARTED your comment so hopefully more people will see it :)

[@michimatsch5862]

@@MidwinterMinis maybe sticky it. that comment just saved me from buying the wrong stuff because in germany appearently there are chalk pastels and oil chalk pastels...

[@TriptonStudios]

michimatsch I am so happy I could help!

[@Nobody-oo2yi]

ok

[@adelehammond1621]

oil pastels will never dry as a artist who uses oil pastels

[@Nallenbot]

"what's the most ominous thing you heard today?" "release the pigment"

[@MidwinterMinis]

RELEASE THE PIGMENTS... no, wait, KRAKEN!

[@justinhealey2408]

Whats ominous..👍

[@notreallydavid]

'Frugal' is a word that makes me laugh. This UK firm lets you order single pastel sticks if you only want one shade...

[@notreallydavid]

'Unzip your bag.'

[@13Robzilla]

Thank you not only for the video, but, more importantly the ideas you just started like a runaway chain reaction. I can see these being useful in a number of ways and at the simple cost of a pastel....mind blown.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Woo! That's exactly what I want my videos to do. Glad I could help Rob :)

[@Nobody-oo2yi]

good thing i have half a ton of pastels

[@NevolmonGaming]

you can also scrape the pastel with the backend of a knife into a bowl for really fine powder. you can even do it with pencil lead for a metallic weathering powder that looks like soot or burnt metal.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Sweet, hadn't even thought about the pencil idea! Nice one :)

[@airshipcity]

Tip from the BJD/doll custom community - it'll help tons if you apply a coat of matte varnish both before and after you apply the pastel powder! Obviously the result may vary based on what material you're working with, but generally, this is common practise for a lot of other custom hobbies where chalk pastel powders are used as a pretty meaty part of the process. Failing that, though, charcoal fixatives should definitely be a failsafe, since keeping fine powder in place is pretty much their entire job. Generally, I think soft/chalk pastels are significantly underused in the model/miniature community outside of commercial weathering powders, so I hope this video might have inspired more people to actually try it out - it's amazing for getting a lot of effects and gradients that are just that much harder to get with paint alone. Especially for terrain, vehicles, and even larger armor pieces or other larger surfaces on models!

[@kitswithkaren5003]

Yes i am trying powders on the boots of 1/32 British airborne figures so we will see.This is my first use of powders.🐻🤗👍

[@W0rmhandler]

I was literally searching up how to weather my farsight models with desert bases earlier today, then you make this video. Stop reading my search history!

[@MidwinterMinis]

I saw other things in that search history too. Terrible, terrible things.

[@erice.9514]

Also a way of fixing it described by Vallejo flyer in their "Rust" set. Wash your model (also a transparent medium works) and brush or strew your pigment over the still wet surface. I tested it myself and came up with some pretty heavy flaked Rust by simply scatter some of the pigment by knocking on the brush over the surface. after it dried I was suprised how solid it stuck to the vallejo sepia wash. I am really new to such stuff and was pretty happy

[@MidwinterMinis]

Great idea! Maybe I'll try that out in the future :)

[@erice.9514]

@@MidwinterMinis Ohh and another Method I tried to figure out (dont know if there are Videos for it), Pigments directly mixed with Lahmian medium. As the medium dries the pigment will regain its natural, powdery look. But I used it only twice and it was pretty hard to guess how the pigment will look like in the end. It worked very well for powdered charcoal as Lasgun muzzleburn... but very caked and crusted on a cape of my Chaos Lord (but very realistic on the base). As I mixed the medium with the powder, the powder dissolved, changed color and lost volume... the application on a dry surface was not so easy and the end result was quite different. But I will keep experimenting

[@timvetsich4703]

i used air drying clay and crushed it up to make a really cool martian rubble love your videos mate!

[@kitswithkaren5003]

Another one for rubble is cat litter🐻🤗👍

[@maledrakh3209]

your dread-inducing horrorfilm music score clashes tonally with your cheerful narration and otherwise wholesome content. I kept tensing up in preparation for the inevitable jumpscare.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Maybe there will be one, one day? Haha. You never know. I like to keep you on your toes.

[@90talsGrind]

Thanks! I agree, “cheerful” wasn’t really what I was aiming for with this track.

[@TheF0xskibidbopmmdada]

@@MidwinterMinis reminds me of The Hateful 8

[@jewellguitars]

This use of pastels has saved me much money and are equal or better than the real thing! Thank you very much! Now, I need to know colors for tank tracks, exhausts etc.

[@BaijoGosum]

Thanks! I have been thinking about getting into the weathering powders. Your timing is great!

[@MidwinterMinis]

I can read minds, didn't you know?... Oh, that's disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself.

[@ahzekahriman5840]

Friend: What kind of scary movies do you like to watch? Me: it's complicated.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Saw meets Bob Ross

[@Hengebobs]

I'd recommend spraying with a charcoal/pastel fixative *then* using the varnesh. Less likely to smear/run that way, and definitely permanent. You could just use the spray fixative, but it's unlikely to hold up well over time with playing on it.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Aah, pro tip! Thanks mate :) I'll give it a try next time.

[@timeandtide9048]

I found some good pastels in 'The Works' today, earthy tones and a full spectrum for £3 a box, trying to make a copper blue patina on a skull dice tower with them.

[@sergiolp6058]

This channel is the diy heroe of my KZbin account, love you!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Thank you Sergio!

[@savardmike]

I use a steel wire mesh strainer, the kind you would use in the kitchen, to make my pigments. get a bowl underneath and rub your pastel on it. The smaller your mesh, the finer your powder will be.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Ah, great idea too! Not quite as fun as SMASH though ;)

[@ralphhodge4295]

I was thinking a fine grit sand paper to “release the pigment”.

[@paulstallings1177]

I'd use a ceramic mortar and pestle, they're not expensive, and it's literally how all 'pre-industrial revolution' painters and artists made pigments.

[@Nobody-oo2yi]

@@MidwinterMinis yes smashing is always fun. also smashing shavings bales (for horse bedding) is really satisfying

[@BeubeuReturns]

Awesome idea, I just started using weathering powders few weeks ago on my Imperial Fists and it really add a realistic feel to the armors with almost no effort. I varnished them with army painter matte varnish, on the model it's ok to lose a bit of intensity, but I used different orange and ochre powders on a mud base as a little experiment. I was very pleased with the result, it turned a bit like a mars or desert thing and went outside to spray it, I let it dry and when I came back it was just a brown mud base again.. I was so pissed, thinking I done something wrong, but with you tests it looks like it's not the best usage for that varnish..

[@MidwinterMinis]

Yeah! I was quite surprised too! :) Hairspray seems to be the answer.

[@JoshmanJoyce]

Such a clever idea! Looking forward to your next video!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Me too! It's such a cool terrain project, I had loads of fun :)

[@batman9592]

This is the best video ever. I've heard about this method but didn't bloody know if you add it to the model before or after. I will be using Hairspray and maybe Varnish later. You learn so much from seeing. Thanks!!!

[@MidwinterMinis]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. Good luck protecting Gotham, my dude.

[@chrism.7760]

The part about fixing the pigments was really helpful. Thanks for that. I wonder how it will look if you fix them with hairspray first and then with a varnish.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Good question! There's loads of combinations you could try out, I'm sure :)

[@raimee81]

This might be better. Because hairspray is designed to be washed out I have feeling that it will rub off easily when being handled with moist hands.

[@LakeyWargames]

Awesome video my man! Was great to see the test afterwards with the varnish and stuff. I always worry about how things will turn out at that stage so it's good to see what to do before you try yourself. Great info all round. Keep up the great work! 🙂

[@MidwinterMinis]

Woo! Thanks bud. Yeah, fixing the powders in place is always a sticky subject, pun intended, so I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring ;)

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

This was awesome. Keep up the good work.

[@Foxiepawstotti]

Chalk pastels are great. A good way of reducing pastel to fine powder is to use a wire mesh screen and rub it through. Heres a tip, if you want the dusty look leave off the final seal but you can build the intensity of chalk pastel by sealing between coats with a matt sealant (Lots of people use MrSuperClear but its expensive so I use a Rustoleum sealant. Like I said, you can use hairspray in the final layer to give that powdery look if thats what youre going for. Oh while I am here, coffee powder makes a great additive to washes if you cant get inks, and coriander, finely ground and mixed with pva makes brilliant moss (Dried coffee grounds can also be used as soil...to keep the culinary theme going lol!)

[@kitswithkaren5003]

Some useful tips🐻🤗👍

[@DarkMatterWorkshop]

RELEASE THE PIGMENT ! Aya sir ! Great vid. and love that ominous soundtrack !

[@MidwinterMinis]

Thanks mate! Glad you enjoyed it. There's a link in the description if you want to hear the full track.

[@enveritas4948]

You can also shave just the right amout off each stick with the back (blunt) edge of a hobby knife. Handy if you want to keep them as sticks to rub onto surfaces.

[@markjolyn94]

You can get real rust out of galvanized pipe that has been out im the weather. Make sure there is rust inside and then lift it vertically and tap it on cement or any hard surface. Then collect the rust and you're set

[@nathanmccook133]

Hair spray is super useful with fine snow flock too

[@MidwinterMinis]

Ah! Yeah, I bet it would be. Good tip :)

[@carpemkarzi]

Nice, I love using pigment powders and it simply didn’t occur to me at all to beat up some pastels...well done

[@MidwinterMinis]

Aah, we're full of cheeky, cheapy tips ;)

[@IKMojito]

Another fantastic tutorial. I'll make sure to toss a link to this to any hobby new comers

[@MidwinterMinis]

Thank you! I'm sure they'll appreciate it :)

[@russellyoung897]

I’m going to get some strange looks at the shops if I buy hairspray... I am somewhat follicley challenged!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Just loudly proclaim that your pubes are wild and untamable. That way, no one will even suspect you're using it for nerdy purposes ;)

[@russellyoung897]

@@MidwinterMinis😂 er, yeah... I manscape 😂

[@brysonbaker3125]

@@MidwinterMinis I can't XD

[@justinhealey2408]

Bro u worry too much...mayb ur at war with a giant bee hive..like super giant which makes u insane which does hava certian resemblane to a fkn nutt so ya u r write

[@willmfrank]

As Edmund said to Walter Raleigh: "So...Some sort of hat would be in order, then?"

[@gto1066]

Great commentary. Concise and really helpful.

[@kitswithkaren5003]

A very handy little video.I have bought ready to go powders but also a box of pastels.I think varnish is ok just add a bit more pigment than you would normally.🐻🤗👍

[@sglenny001]

I appreciate this I recently been given some by a local mod community

[@jakubkartolski7329]

And I've just started creating Necromunda rusty factories... Cool:)

[@MidwinterMinis]

Nice! I love a good rusty factory :)

[@KevinoftheCosmos]

Wow, that's looks fantastic. Great job thinking of this. Subbed!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Awesome, glad you enjoyed it Kevin :)

[@apinakapinastorba]

Made my own powder immediatelly :) Thanks for the tip!

[@thejonathan130]

The Pink one might be useful to make some martian dust tones. If you want an oddly specific location from earth, It would make a near perfect colour to make a dry mud affect for a diorama set in the Gagetown training area.

[@CallofOdin580]

Have used mig pigments for a few years now but am going to give this a shot. I’m presuming that the mig pigment fixer will work just as well with the Pastels. Can’t see any reason why not

[@MidwinterMinis]

Oh, I'm sure it would, it's great stuff :)

[@susano323]

lol @ the music in this video. I just bought some pigments to mess around with embellishing decoupage, furniture, acrylic paintings, etc, and now wonder about fixing it, prior to polyurethane finishing. IIRC, there is fixative spray for pastels (I've never used it) which seems like it might give best results.

[@GENERALWA5TE]

First video I have watched on your channel and needless to say I have liked and subscribed. I have a revell weathering kit which I wish to add to my Toyota Celica rally car. Hairspray sounds great.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Nice! I'd like to do a model car for the channel one day, a Celica would be high up on the list ;)

[@GENERALWA5TE]

@@MidwinterMinis I have ordered some rally figures, looks like the last ones on earth as Tamiya discontinued them, I'm looking into 3D scanning them so I can 3D print more for future models. Have you used Revell Weathering Kit before, if so do you have a video on it at all?

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

I'm definitely trying this out. I've been wanting to experiment with weathering powders but the price has kept me at bay. Thanks again!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Awesome! Good timing eh? Good luck :)

[@TriptonStudios]

Just a FYI the powder pigments sold in bulk to artist are way cheaper than pigment made by Vallejo, SWM, FW etc I can’t recall the site but if you google rare earth pigments, it should get you to the site, however the smallest size they sell is way too much, I bought 8 jars of different colors 6 years ago and haven’t made a dent.

[@benn1181]

I use Vallejo pigment binder. On a tank I'll first paint on some pigment binder, then I stipple on the powder.

[@kieranf3021]

I assumed that you'd have needed to rub the pastels on some sand paper of similar and that seemed really tedious, this looks like fun!

[@MrFrostyankles]

Thanks a ton! I was really wanting to get into pigments but they are expensive and they are hard to get in my area.

[@MasterChiefPettyOfficer]

Dear Midwinter, what happens to my minis when i use hairspray? Wont they be sticky and gluey all the time? Or does it go away? And could I use army painter varnish out of the bottle for brushing too?

[@MidwinterMinis]

The tackiness should only last a few minutes, and then dry with a slight satin finish :)

[@Eener1000]

You can also mix the powders really well to get a certein hue or to brighten up a color since it is basically all the same stuff.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Smart! Yeah, I bet you can make all sorts of great tones and textures with enough variety :)

[@oscartravis5740]

Ingenious tip this, thanks a lot. The prices are ridiculous for the proper stuff so it's great to swerve being ripped off 🙂

[@KarlRosner]

When I'm fixing sand/fine grit to terrain I tend to use PVA glue 1/5 glue to water ratio. I dropper it on and then mop up any excess with the corner of a paper towel. It seals very well. Another alternative is watered down matte/gloss acrylic medium.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Nice tip! Thanks Karl :)

[@helenmcclure]

If you use the alcohol first and then put watered down pva on top (whilst still wet) u will fix your pigment.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Interesting! I might give it a try :)

[@madcat1007]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Where did you find those little plastic containers?

[@ApocEllie]

One of my favorites yet! Been wanting to start using some weathering powders but couldn't afford them! Thanks so much! Any chance you've done or will do a video on different ways to use them?

[@MidwinterMinis]

I'll be using them in the next video for sure, keep your eyes peeled!

[@waynebellamy4749]

Great video as I'm after a mars type red pigment for a commission im currently working on and don't want to spend money to bump up the price for the customer this pigment should do the trick 👍

[@AndrewDowell]

Great video guys! Just found your channel. I use a mixture of curry powder and cinnamon for weathering with a hairspray finish. I'll have to try out some colourful pastel chalks for alien environments. Thanks!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Plus, your terrain will smell bloody delicious! Haha

[@MichelletheMiniatureMisfit]

Oooh clever idea.... Ebay here I come!

[@MidwinterMinis]

I literally spend my life there, haha

[@MichelletheMiniatureMisfit]

@@MidwinterMinis Remember this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4ick3t6rpqenrM XD

[@kuntibolox]

I use a tea strainer to grate the pastels and get a fine, consistent pigment.

[@ВладимирДубов-е9р]

Thsnks for the video! Will use pastel for that purpose then)

[@MidwinterMinis]

Good luck! :)

[@oddhin8323]

You could also just buy raw earth pigments (for cheaper than the pastels are). That way your pigment doesn't have chalk in it to make everything whiter.

[@MidwinterMinis]

You could, yes!

[@RebelBaseBuilds]

Really helpful, cheers. Subbed 👊

[@andrewplantgollum8689]

I have a Tip Coffee Grinder works better for grinding pigment. To clean the grinder between colors grind sand. This ground up sand can also be used for weathering and making Dioramas.

[@Rynhelms]

Always love the soundtrack

[@TheCompleteDM]

Watching in 2019: Guy, where am I going to get a mask to cover my face while I pour this stuff? Watching in 2020: Hold my beer.

[@mattw9667]

Thank you! Was wondering what the source for powders was.

[@savagex466-qt1io]

After chalk pigment applied what kind of varnish do you use and how much ? Please anyone thanks so much

[@MidwinterMinis]

After testing them out, I'd probably just recommend hairspray!

[@savagex466-qt1io]

@@MidwinterMinis thanks for shareing

[@TheDungeonMattster]

Just found these. Love your channel! Often wondered if pastels would work. Answered that question quickly. :P

[@MidwinterMinis]

Excellent, glad we could help!

[@joshpickering5039]

Might have to pick these up!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Go for it! They're pretty good for traditional art too :)

[@joshpickering5039]

Midwinter Minis Nice! Im still scratching my head abit on exactly when in the modelling process you should add the weathering powders? After the model is fully painted, but as a last step before you varnish??

[@teretrixwargaming5978]

Hey midwinter love your stuff and talked about how to you do your necrons I'm sorry I forgot your name during the podcast, your works amzing keep the great work up

[@MidwinterMinis]

Awesome! I'll check it out :)

[@teretrixwargaming5978]

@@MidwinterMinis you can find it in the weather pigs channel on his new forecast thing, I bring it up as I wanted to interpret it to hours heresy era war

[@brianmusco5791]

I do the same thing for all my weathering from minis to cosplay. It works super well.

[@ShipWreck68]

How do you think modellers set pigments in the old days? Turpentine. But a better alternative is Turpinoid which has no smell and drys fast.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Yeah! I heard the tales, but never tried it myself! I love a good bit of real turps ;)

[@isaacehmer7046]

I see the shadowspear box in the background. Foreshadowing???

[@MidwinterMinis]

You're the first one to notice ;)

[@elijahtiemens5532]

Would you recommend this for models as well? UR-025 for example, would this work well, or would using painting techniques work better for character models?

[@MidwinterMinis]

It should work fine on miniatures too, but that's obviously up to you :)

[@djetronakanorte]

Cool Vid mate I've also done this myself in the past and still got loads left its lasted me about 3year in total and still going but I paid £7.00 for mine 15 all in but I only used 8 from the set

[@MidwinterMinis]

Nice! Did you go for earthtones, or were you a bit more adventurous with your colours? :)

[@djetronakanorte]

@@MidwinterMinis I went out of the box a bit got a few earthtones but some rusttones with reds and orange and blue and green as well I use for rain damige

[@robertevans3173]

Subbed! This was super helpful. I am not much of a painter, but I am looking to get better.

[@xj770HUN]

Can some one tell me what is the name of that music at 0:28? I really love it. :D

[@rupertgarland7050]

Brilliant vid once again. Keep them coming! Is it possible to modify the colour using a wash or other medium before application? Or does the pastel not absorb this well? Just a thought to get a wider 'range' of effects from a single colour. Also I think you should mix a little pink in with each one ... I bet no-one would notice. Go on. You know you want to .....

[@MidwinterMinis]

I think it would work fine, definitely would be an interesting experiment! :)

[@pgabrieli]

tamiya x20 thinner is also a viable option for fixing pigments. or so I read

[@MidwinterMinis]

Interesting! I haven't tried it, but I might give it a go :)

[@michimatsch5862]

What are the health risks of the pigment dust?

[@MidwinterMinis]

Nothing major I think, but chalk dust can irritate your breathing for a while.

[@michimatsch5862]

@@MidwinterMinis ah. that's fine. I was just worried that if I don't have a mask on when applying it I might destroy my lungs. thanks for the video!

[@oprahsmash5631]

The dust can be toxic. Have to watch out for the ones that use heavy metals such as cadmium, cobalt, etc. And use common sense. Dont blow the dust around, wash your hands after working with them. The dust is super fine. Most vacuum filters wont catch it. Wiping with a damp cloth is better. If you have asthma might want to take extra precautions.

[@mattcappelli5822]

Not only will my troops look good, they will smell good! Nothing strikes fear into the heart of an opponent than a shambling chaos hoard smelling like a tropical breeze!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Feel the wrath of my strawberry and aloe legion, heretic.

[@mattcappelli5822]

Midwinter Minis I'm not sure how a my little pony colored chain cannon would be received, but I'm willing to try

[@willmfrank]

Try a fixative made from Mod Podge or PVA, and a drop or two of dish detergent. Thin with water and apply with a spray bottle.

[@thedarkapostle6025]

Loved the video not sure how i did not know this already lol. One question have you ever tried like a glaze medium to lock then down and is so how did that compare? Thanks

[@HendrikMorkel]

Thanks for the tip, that is really useful (and comes a wee bit late as I just spend 9€ on a Tamiya Weather Set with three (!) colours... 😬)! Now what was the brand of the cheap hairspray?!

[@MidwinterMinis]

Haha, I'm sure they are of a very high quality though :) I think the hairspray was just Asda/Walmart's own brand!

[@stevenbuerkle9329]

WoW that was nice , thanks 😊

[@bradjensen4902]

Rather than smashing the pastel stick, I use a cheap coffee grinder to make a very fine powder. Fast and easy. The coffee grinder is not used for anything but pastels.

[@harlequin_adeArchived]

the pink one you said looks like red to me and if you mixed it with a hint of orange you could make aussie dust

[@wolflahti412]

I get a more-consistent fine powder by rubbing the pastels over coarse sandpaper.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Yeah, that would probably be a much more effective, but way less fun method ;)

[@Fourwheeljive]

Great idea, thanx!

[@eBiCrafter]

Thanks buddy 😊

[@plasmofandwedge7142]

Great vid

[@MidwinterMinis]

Bloody hell, that was fast! ;)

[@plasmofandwedge7142]

Lol

[@stevethepirate2875]

No the pink on is red clay mud. The bottom of my car looked like that color just the other day.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Ahh, of course! :)

[@Lukas-ds5gh]

Excellent. Perfect..

[@Tinblitz]

"I made this from a packet of mushrooms" Perfect for making Ork barracks, then.

[@euansmith3699]

"RELEASE THE PIGMENT AND LET SLIP THE WEATHERING POWDERS OF WAAAAAAR!!!"

[@MidwinterMinis]

Bang bang bang bang

[@Nobody-oo2yi]

surely you can use pastel sealer spray stuff to seal the powder

[@MidwinterMinis]

Maybe! But I'm trying to find options that mini-painters probably already have :)

[@Nosferatuklown]

Do you think the hairspray would work as a sealer or replacement for a top coat of varnish for the rest of the model to protect the paint as well?

[@fatroller4089]

would a satin varnish not be more effective? keep the metallics and perhaps not knock down the look of the powder.

[@MidwinterMinis]

Possibly not actually, I think it's not necessarily the glossiness of the varnish that removes the powdery look, rather just the varnish itself.

[@fatroller4089]

@@MidwinterMinis Fair enough, perhaps the aerosol is to rough on it. Hairspray doesnt have as much pressure in my experience.

[@jonathonsmith8299]

Noo! Guy you're advice led me astray. The weathering powder all but disappeared when I hit it with the hairspray. What brand do you use?

[@Voytaz1985]

Great! Thank you

[@LiliaArmoury]

i look forward to trying this! can you fix weathering powder with watered down pva?

[@rancidhotmail]

do you spray or varnish any of your models that you play with? is it specifically hair spray that you recommend for models that we play with? i thought you mentioned painting a clear coat in another video

[@septimus64]

What if you sprayed the hair spray first?

[@MidwinterMinis]

Not sure! Maybe I'll give it a try :)

[@brad2861]

Sitting down to watch this a realise I brought the exact same pastel set

[@xxmaxab623xx8]

What varnish do you use ?