Pigment Copper

Copper pigment for weathering

A pigment is a fine colored powder with no binder. It is applied dry and settles exactly where a deposit would lie on a real object or where the surface would be rubbed through. Against paint applied with a brush it looks matte and broken up, so the result reads as a deposit or as bare metal rather than as a coat of paint. The copper shade is one of the warmer ones and reads on a model as metal, not as dirt.

Where copper makes sense on a model

The most straightforward use is where copper really is: piping, lines, boilers, ship propellers, bells and fittings on wooden structures. The second use is for weathering: a copper cast on edges and raised areas suggests bare metal under a rubbed-through finish without reaching for silver, which tends to be too loud on small areas. The third use is as a base: copper serves well as the under-tone beneath green verdigris, because the warm metal shines through the thin green layer and the patina looks convincing.

How to apply the pigment

• Work only on a finished, completely dry finish.
• Pick the powder up with a soft brush and spread it with light strokes.
• Tap the excess off or wipe it away carefully; taking away is easier than adding.
• Work in layers and look at the piece from a distance between them.
• To fix it, use a product intended for pigments; the shade darkens slightly afterward.
• Make a test on a piece of scrap plastic, not straight on the model.

Terms of supply

The pigment is supplied in the shade stated. A fixer, brushes and paints are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.