NEUTRAL GREY pencils

AK Interactive NEUTRAL GREY - a weathering pencil

NEUTRAL GREY is one of the colors of the Weathering Pencils range from the manufacturer AK Interactive. It is neither a kit nor an accessory for a model but a modeling aid for weathering: a pencil with a special water-activated (water thinnable) lead which contains less grease than ordinary artist's watercolor pencils and is therefore built directly for modeling effects.

The principle is simple and that is the whole advantage: you draw dry exactly where you want it and only then blend the mark with a damp brush. You mix nothing, you need no palette and no thinner, and until you blend the lead you can still correct it. That is exactly why weathering pencils are the easiest way into weathering for anyone who is not yet confident with a brush and a wash.

Why a neutral gray in particular

NEUTRAL GREY is a neutral tone: it neither warms nor cools the color you lay it over. That is a fundamental difference from brown or bluish shades: a neutral gray only darkens and deepens without shifting the character of the base. That makes it universal for anything: for a green tank, the gray fuselage of an aircraft, a khaki crate or sand desert camouflage.

Use

• Deepening shadows: gently darkening under edges, in corners and in recesses, so that a model gains depth.
• Outlining lines: drawing out engraved panel lines, hatch seams and edges dry, precisely and with no capillary flow.
• Fine dirt: unobtrusive dirtying of surfaces, wear around grab handles, chipped edges.
• Blending and softening: after drawing, go over it with a damp brush; the mark softens and blends smoothly into the base. You control the strength by how damp the brush is.
• The base: the manufacturer recommends applying it to a flat surface, on which the lead holds best; on gloss varnish it grips less well.

Who it is for

For modelers who want to add depth and a used look to a model quickly and safely, without having to master oils and washes. It also serves advanced builders excellently as an extra pencil for final touch-ups and fine tuning. It suits plastic models, military vehicles, figures and diorama accessories.

A modeling aid for weathering, neither a kit nor a paint in a jar. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not inhale the dust from the lead when sharpening; sharpen over a mat and remove the dust. It is not a toy.