I'm about to finish a model but want to give it a slightly used look. I figure on using highly dilluted Tamiya buff and flat earth.

Few questions though, should I dilute this with water or thinner? And what percentage would be recommended?

Also should this be done ideally before of after a wash, or does it matter?

Thanks guys.

What is the setting for your model? Europe, desert, Vietnam? Are you air brushing this as"road dust"? Are you hand painting this as dust that has settled into the horizontal surfaces over time and accumulated around the hatches and such? If you can give a better idea of your ultimate end result goal, we can probably better point you in the best direction. Cheers.

Normandy three tone Tiger. Airbrush. Other than that not sure how to apply it, first attempt!

Hi Jordan,

This M3 Lee at Fort Knox shows just how dusty tanks can get:

Here is a gallery of photos from Normandy, 1944. There are a few vehicles that show a suprising lack of dust.

http://miliblog.co.uk/?cat=334

Page 3 here shows how to simulate very dry and powdery dust that is vibrated into corners by clanking tanks:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/features/782&page=3





Lifecolor, MiG, and other companies make sets of dry pigments that you simple brush onto your model. I'll have photos demonstrating Lifecolor's set DUST on soon.

If you 'paint' your finished Tiger with water and then brush - or even airbrush - it with a heavy wash of Tamiya heavily diluted in Future, you can see how the Future "pulled" the paint towards corners and crevasses, while leaving a thin accumulation on horizontal surfaces.

Careful airbrushing Future - use a respirator and/or mask, something to keep the finely atomized Future - a liquid polymer - out of your lungs. Future is advertised at non-toxic but only when used as directed; J&J probably never tested it as an atomized spray for modelers!