Well it finally arrived

[rallying83]

My 1:24 WRC Subaru Impreza Safari has arrived. I plan to start on it today so I will put up some updates in a few weeks.

I am still very green at this so I will be asking some questions every so often so please bear with me

I guess the first and most important question is what is the best technique to simulate dirt on a car. I only get one shot at it or the car is buggered. This is the first model I have done in which I am trying to simulate something(in this case the dusty roads of Kenya)

Thanks in advance

gren

[SteveK2003]

There are a number of dirt-colored paints on the market, they are best applied with an airbrush to let you build up a fine enough coat.

You can also use special chalks and even real dirt.

[Amazon]

..There is a company that those armour-building dudes seem to like; it´s called MIG production and they make dirt powder in various`themes`, like Èuropean dirt`or `Wet mud` e.t.c.
And then you have colors from Andrea Miniatures, but this is airbrush ready acrylics,also used by armourdudes. Have a few bottles in various "dirt" hues but have yet to use them!

[PRIVATEER]

dry pastels are the key. Its actually very simple. All you do is grind the chalk pastels into a dust then using a dry paint brush apply the powder. You can add dust streaks, dried mud, just about any weather effect on the body of the car you want. If you make a mistake plain old water washes the pastel off. When you have the look you want, seal the pastels with a very light coat of Testors dull coat.

[Whumbachumba]

Hmm, would dry pastels work for say, a rally race diorama from britian, or would I need something wetter looking?

[Sticky Fingers]

I've always fancied trying the 'toothbrush' method but I'm a big scaredy-pants To me the risk of ruining a model right-at-the-very-end is one I personally don't think is worth it (for me, anyway!)