Detail Sponge / Pad

Detail Sponge / Pad, a sponge for weathering models

The sponge is one of the simplest and at the same time most effective tools for weathering. A brush draws a line; a sponge instead creates an irregular, random texture that the hand can hardly imitate. That is exactly why it is used for chipped paint, wear on edges, rust patches or uneven dust. It is a working aid, not a part of the model.

How to work with it

The basic technique is usually called chipping: the sponge is dipped in paint, the excess is wiped off on paper so that only a minimum of material stays on it, and only then is it dabbed lightly onto the model. What decides the result is the amount of paint on the sponge, and the less there is, the finer and more believable the mark. Pigments can be applied the same way, and so can transitions between shades.

Use

• Chipped paint on hatch edges, walking surfaces and the corners of a cargo bed.
• Irregular rust patches and traces of service wear.
• Spreading and stippling pigments over a surface.
• Soft transitions between two shades with no visible brush strokes.

Who the aid is for

• Builders of military vehicles and dioramas, where wear is part of the result.
• Aircraft and car modelers who want fine wear in exposed places.
• Wargamers and figure painters working with quick effects.
• Beginners who do not yet manage to imitate a random texture with a brush.

This is a modeling aid, not a kit. Paints, pigments and thinners are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise. Clean the tool with the appropriate thinner after use and work in a ventilated room.