Scale model enthusiasts know that weathering is the secret ingredient to bringing miniature worlds to life. From dusty tanks to aged buildings, realistic weathering tells a story and adds depth to your creations. But achieving that perfect weathered look at a cost that is friendly to most budgets can be tricky. That’s where a surprising tool comes in: Tombow Dual Tip pens.
These water-based pens, often used for calligraphy and art, are great for scale model weathering. I recently put them to the test, and I’m excited to share my findings.
Why Tombow Dual Tip Pens for Weathering?
I decided to try the Tombow Dual Tip pens after I found them on a recent trip to the craft store (actually to get something for my wife, but I didn’t argue the opportunity to visit that store) to create a weathered and stained effect on the bottom of a wooden wall in my scale model. I wanted to simulate the look of ground moisture and age. Here’s what I discovered:
- Ease of Application: The brush tip allows for precise application, even in tight corners. You can easily control the amount of paint and create subtle gradients.
- Water-Based Blendability: The water-based formula makes it incredibly easy to thin and blend the colors with a wet brush. This gives you complete control over the intensity of the weathering.
- Quick Drying: The paint dries relatively quickly, allowing you to layer colors and build up the weathering effect without waiting for extended periods. Just be conservative at first. Test on a scrap piece of wood first.
- Variety of Colors: The wide range of colors available means you can find the perfect shades for any weathering project. Literally every color! Individual pens in the store are about $3.49, but the multi pack saves a little per pen.
- Perfect for Details: The fine tip side of the pen can be used for very fine lines and details.
My Weathering Experiment:
In my recent project, I used the Tombow Dual Tip pens to simulate ground staining on a wooden wall. I simply applied the pen along the bottom of the wall and then used a damp brush to blend and thin it out. The result was a realistic and subtle weathered effect that added a touch of authenticity to my model.
I was so impressed with the results that I’m planning to expand my collection with greens and grays to tackle weathering around waterfront scenes. Im pumped at the possibilities for creating realistic algae growth, rust, and other weathering effects!
Get Your Own Tombow Dual Tip Pens!
Ready to try Tombow Dual Tip pens for your own scale model weathering projects? You can pick up a set here (Amazon associate link): https://amzn.to/4kmBfvq
