Weathering: Dry Mud

[CosmicCreations]

Blimey I haven't been on here for absoluely ages! I used to be a regular poster on here but I slipped away on to another forum, but Im temporarily back! And this time with a tutorial that has helped many others.

 

This will explain how to create an effective looking dried mud effect on anything of your choosing, whether it be a vehicle, scenery or infantry. This is a cheap method instead of using proper pigments and special pigment fixers or what have you.

 

Your basic ingredients are:

-Cheap artists pastel

-Matte Varnish.

 

So here we go....

 

 

1) Once you have FULLY painted your selected model (it could be a vehicle, building or even a soldier) you need to seal it with a coat of Matte Varnish.

 

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4332.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4333.jpg

 

2) With a good spray of Varnish, leave it to partly dry. Leave your selected model standing upright so that any excess varnish will pool towards the bottom, this is very important! The thinner layer on all of the upright surfaces will dry before the pooled Varnish at the bottom.

 

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4336.jpg

 

3) Whilst this is drying, move on to the pigment. Just use Artist Pastels, you can easily buy some in a box from any stationers. Use your knife to scrape off a pile of dust. It's best to use a couple of colours, one dark and one light.

 

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4339.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4340.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4341.jpg

 

4) Once you're satisfied that most of the Varnish has dried and left some nice pools you can start weathering. Using a little extra help from some more Matte Varnish, spread the excess over the bottom of the model. Don't be fussy, just push it all about with your brush. It's up to you how high you want the mud to go.

 

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4343.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4344.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4345.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4346.jpg

 

5) With a bone-dry brush, pick up your new powder. Tap your brush with your finger and randomly move over your model. The powder will fall off and settle on the varnish. Use your lighter coloured powder first, and then move on to the darker stuff.

 

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4348.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4349.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4350.jpg

 

6) Leave it to dry for a few minutes then gently bang off the excess. If you too much powder falls off then simply reapply with your brush :o.

 

7) Put your model to one side to dry completely.

 

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4359.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4360.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4312.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4315.jpg

 

8) Once they have fully dried, apply one final coat of Matte Varnish or Hairspray (the differences are explained below). BE GENTLE! Only spray in very short bursts and from about 40cms away. You want it to fall in more of a mist than a concentrated spray.

 

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4365.jpg

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo11/Cosmic_Castaway2157/Imperial%20and%20Eldar/SAM_4367.jpg

 

Matte Varnish will keep the colour relatively similar, however the pigment will remain slightly dusty.

 

Hairspray will seal the pigment permanently, but it will alter the colour drastically.

 

I would recommend leaving the pigment alone and not sealing it ONLY if the piece you have weathered will be set into a board or something. I would use Matte Varnish for everything else, just be sure to handle with care. Only use Hairspray if you're using a VERY light coloured pigment.

 

If you have any questions then feel free to leave a post or PM me :)

 

Cosmic

[Kierdale]

An excellent tutorial!

I'm guessing that artist's pastels are probably cheaper than 'proper' weathering powders?

[esinhorn]

They are cheaper by alot,I would not use pastels on my tanks but on terrain definitely.

You can also once dry lightly dust it with the weathring powder to return the dry look.