Weathering Sponge Brush Fine

Tamiya Weathering Sponge Brush Fine (fine sponge applicator)

This is a modeling aid for weathering - it is not a kit and it is not a bristle brush either. At the end of the handle is a springy sponge in a fine grade, with which weathering material is picked up and applied: pastes and dry pigments. Tamiya makes the applicator primarily for its own weathering set. The handle is long and shaped, so work in the tight spots of a model stays under control.

Why a sponge and not a brush

A sponge does not make strokes - it stipples and dabs. The material transfers irregularly, only onto the high points and edges, and that is exactly what real scuffs, chipped paint, dust and soot look like. A bristle brush cannot do this: it always leaves a legible stroke behind. The effect can moreover be built up in layers, so you can stop at any time before the weathering is overdone.

Use

• Applying weathering pastes and pigments by dabbing, stippling and light pressing.
• Fine chipping on the edges of hatches, handles, doors and walking surfaces.
• Discreet dust, soot and oily traces on small areas and around details.
• Work on figures, cockpits, interiors and small parts, where a larger sponge would smear the effect.
• The Fine version has a finer sponge - it is meant for small detail and subtler, less conspicuous effects. When you need to cover large areas or a coarser texture of wear, reach for the Medium version.

Who it is for

For modelers who finish their weathering in the detail - figure painters and builders of aircraft cockpits, interiors and smaller scales. It suits anywhere the wear is meant to be fine and targeted and must not cover the engraving or the small parts. Even a beginner will manage it, because the effect is built up gradually.

An aid for modelers. Pigments and weathering pastes are powdery materials: do not inhale the dust, work in a ventilated area and wash your hands afterwards. Keep out of the reach of children.