Pastels

[meaneyme]

I have seen several modelers here using pastels for weathering and other little things, my question is what do you guys use, and how do you use them?

[cruz]

Hey Kevin, I recently started incorporating pastels in my builds, I am still learning how to use them but I am happy with the little bit of success I have had with them. I went to Michael's and bought this set, if I recall, I paid about 14 dollars for it.

The first time I used them was in the interior of this Miata that I completed close to 2 years ago.

If you notice, one of the seats in the picture is done with pastels and also one of the door panels!

Here is the completed interior!!

I also did a bit of weathering on my '60 Ford Starliner's engine bay and chassis!!

Hosted on Fotki

Hosted on Fotki

What I do is rub some of the chalk on a piece of sandpaper and use an old brush or one of those eyeliners women use to put on their makeup to spread it on the part.

What I suggest you do is, if you have any spare parts like seats or anything similar, paint them in the color of your choice and start practicing and getting a feel for them, soon you will be getting more and better ideas on how to use them. It's just one more tool in your arsenal to take your modeling to the next level. Hope this helps my friend, I think you will have a lot of fun playing around with this!!!!

[meaneyme]

Thanks Mr. Cruz, this information will be very helpful to me when I decide to start using this system. Loved that engine bay in the Starliner.

[VW Dave]

I went to Michael's and bought this set, if I recall, I paid about 14 dollars for it.

I got the same set, but the coupon from my Sunday paper cut the price in half.

A dollar store makeup brush set is my 'weapon of choice' when it comes to applying pastels; there are a few different brush styles to choose from(foam and bristle). I rub the brush right on the chalk sticks, most likely because I'm too lazy to add the sandpaper step. To seal them I use misty coats of Testors DullCote.

My 'Joe Dirt' Charger was heavily dusted with pastels:

[Chillyb1]

I got this set even cheaper at Hobby Lobby:

I chose the earth tone set because it seemed to have more colors appropriate for creating weathering effects. Lots of dust, dirt, mud, and rust possibilities available that primary color sets don't have. But that is an individual modeler's choice to make.

My experience using pastels is limited, but I think the most important thing to remember is that the stuff has to be rubbed in pretty thoroughly before it will adhere. It doesn't like gloss surfaces at all, which isn't too much of a problem because we really don't do much weathering on nice shiny cars. Other modelers have complained that pastels only create a dust that isn't realistic and that doesn't stay in place. But Dave and Marcos have really pointed out how to use these things. Once pastels are applied to flat or semi-gloss surfaces and rubbed into place, they don't come off. And, as those guys have shown, pastels can be used both to create weathering effects and to enhance the depth of detail anywhere on a model that details get lost without some sort of contrast.

[made007]

i have a set i boght at walmart, lets see if they work, nice write up marcos

[joose79]

been useing them for years they work great. dark brown and and yellow work great for leather.

[Alyn]

I have a similar Gallery set as well as some smaller two-packs of earth tones and charcoals. This seat has charcoal rubbed on the seat cushion with my finger to simulate wear where the driver and passenger sit as well as in the crease between the seat cushion and back cushion. The side panels have some black, gray and brown chalks to provide an aged, slightly rusty look to the panel.

I sand down the chalk stick or scrape it with an Xacto blade and then save the powder of my favorite colors in small plastic vials for future use.

Here's a chassis with more grays and browns, and even a little blue (on the gas tank) applied. Chalks should always be applied to dull or matte finishes. If you need the surface to be gloss, you can apply gloss clear afterwards.

Edited February 20, 2011 by Alyn

[Dr. Cranky]

Beautiful work on that Miata. I use pastels in colors that are not available in the Mig Pigments line . . . it all works beautifully, the trick is to practice and experiment until you are happy with the results.