HOW THE COM-ART COLOURS WORK
The Browns
Light Dust can be used for very light shades of dirt or ballast, or to
simulate a light coat of very fine dirt. It also can be used to make the
white or off-white lettering in signs, model train cars, or armor to
appear to be streaking. Lastly, it can be used to create the light
overcoat that makes a tank or train car appear to be sun faded. Soft
Dirt is a medium brown color that can be used to show dirt in the treads
of tanks, darker or heavier layers of dirt on rolling stock or
wheelsets, general dirt on structures or vehicles, and even darker
fleshtones.

Soft
Dirt may be combined with Opaque Raw Sienna to create a more yellow mud
hue. Fertile Soil is a sable dark brown color that can be used to show
dirt in the tread or on the side of tanks. It also can be used to create
the splash-back of dirt on the side of a building near the ground that
occurs from rain. Fertile soil can be combined with Transparent Smoke to
create a dark black-brown color that is ideal for creating skid marks
from vehicles.
The Rusts
Dark Rust is the darkest of rust colors that would be used to create the
initial streak on an older rust streak or spot. It can be mixed with
Light Rust and Opaque Raw Sienna to create intermediate colors or to
change the hue. Dark Rust mixed with Transparent Smoke makes a nice
grimy wash to create brake dust on vehicles or as an overall grimy wash
on iron oxide rolling stock. Light Rust is the lighter component of the
rust spectrum. It easily creates the stains that occur from water
dripping across a heavily rusted spot. Opaque Raw Sienna is a wonderful
color to create the fresh, bright yellow-orange rust spots on metals.
It also makes an excellent color to adjust any of the rust hues. The
dirt colors also can be adjusted with the Raw Sienna to provide a more
orange-yellow hue to the dirt.
The Smokes
Blue-grey Smoke imitates the bluish-grey soot frequently seen on the end
of cannons and guns from the black powder. It is also found on items
that would have used anthracite or blue coal for energy. The soot from a
steam locomotive traditionally has this blue-grey color. Additional
uses include old industrial smoke stacks, roundhouses and tunnel
portals, and even chimneys on structures. Transparent Smoke can be used
for the standard smoke and soot on vehicles, structures and even
scenery. In addition, it can be used as a base coat or a wash on figures
to create the shadows in the folds of clothing or the relief on faces.
Transparent Smoke also can be used to darken any of the colors in the
palette. Old Oil combines yellows, browns, and blacks to create the
characteristic color of old oil or dirty cup grease. It can be used on
surfaces to create an oily, greasy or grungy appearance. This includes
journal boxes on model train trucks or the tread mechanisms on tanks and
armor. Old Oil can be lightened with Opaque White or Light Dust to
create an aged concrete appearance that can be used throughout your
scenery.
Opaque White is excellent to use to lighten any of the colors in the
palette. It also can be used to create the illusion of streaked white
lettering on armor or rolling stock. Very light layers of Opaque White
can be used to fade black lettering or to sun fade vehicles with a
lighter base color.
Creating Rust Streaks
Creating Rust Streaks tend to drip downward because gravity pulls the
water down. Dripping rust spots can be created by using a pin or tiny
brush to place a dab of Fertile Soil on your structure or vehicle where
you want the rust spot. Let it dry for a minute or so and then place a
dot of dark or light rust over it. Using a dry paintbrush, stroke
LIGHTLY in a downward motion over the still-wet rust color. The result
is a rust spot that has dirt and rust stains running down from it.
Three-Dimensional Weathering
Three-dimensional rust, grease and dirt is easy to achieve with the
Real Deal Weathering Kit. Simply take a fine brush and dip it into the
color of your choice. Then pick up a tiny amount of baking soda on your
wet brush and placing it on the item.
Allow
it to completely dry before adding any other colors to define the rust
or dirt area. Seal the buildup in place with a dab of acrylic matte
varnish. Sealing the weathering colors Once you are happy with your
weathering, you may seal the paints in several ways. Matte or gloss
acrylic varnishes may be lightly airbrushed over the item to seal the
paint. Acrylic varnishes also can be mixed into the weathering paints to
create permanence in a single-stage paint. This is particularly useful
for creating the shiny appearance that oil or grease would have. Matte
and gloss acrylic varnishes also can be mixed together to create varying
degrees of a satin finish.
Kit contains 10 colors plus color mixing instructions