I went to order some Weathering Powders and have a choice of three brands. A.I.M., Micro mark or Bragdon. Are weathering powders all created equal? Opinions greatly appreciated, as I venture into “serious” weathering for the first time.[^o)] As always thanks for the help.
Brent[C):-)]
I use bragdon.
That is what I got my hands on at the Amhearst/W Springfield show, and I like them. I go out of my way if I have to to find more.
Since I haven’t tried other brands, I can’t really comment on them.
I did learn the hard way NOT to put the weathering powders between me and 1} a fan, and 2} the A/C vents!!! I will weather as I age, I don’t need to hurry the pace!!!
[8-|]
I just happen to like the Bragdon powders mainly due to the divided plastic container for use. Smaller zip locks are in each section. I still only shake a small amount on cardstock and make a pallet of sorts.
I believe most of the “real” weathering powders are basically the same. Not to be confused w/ chaulks that really don’t have the “stick”.
The bragdon actually will stick on most factory finishes, however, for best results applying over a dull finish works the best, and allows the most control.
I prefer the A.I.M. powders.
I agree, Bragdons are probably the most widely used in this hobby, from talking to other modelers and from reading. I too don’t know anything about the other brands. I’ve been told that artist’s pastels work well too, but that may depend what you’re weathering, be it a freight car, structure, etc.
Another vote for Bragdon. He has a starter set (FF-R12) that comes with all the “colors” you’re likely to need for about $25. http://www.bragdonent.com/smpic/cattable.htm#WEATHER scroll down about half way. Mine came in a partitioned box with the powders in small zip-lock bags rather than the square boxes shown on the website. I bought it from Bragdons website, it was shipped very promptly, but you can also buy it from other venders. I got 2 free bonus colors when I bought mine directly from Bragdon (14 instead of 12)…
I have used AIM chalks. They are what is locally available.
This Athearn Union Pacific boxcar was weathered with the AIM chalks.
!(http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/GrandFunkRR/Trains of Olyville/IMG_4116.jpg)
I have the AIM powders and like them much better than chalk 
Like others I would also recommend a quick Dullcote spray before using powders. It makes a difference.
Jarrell
I am going to recommend that you try Pan Pastels…if you can’t find them in your local art store, you can find them online. They are dead flat, come in the full spectrum of colors, and contain a binder which makes having to spray with Dullcote or some such product unnecessary.
I wrote about this product, which I use constantly, a long time ago, but when I tried to find that posting of mine, it was was gone. I suspect I raved about it so much that the moderators must have thought I owned the company or something and deleted my posting!!
Everyone I know who has used Pan Pastels has made them their weathering chalk/pastel/dust of choice.
Just my two cents.
I use both the Bragdon’s and run of the mill chalk purchased at art of craft stores. The Bragdon is nice because it is sef-sticking, and won’t rub off on your fingers when handling the car (nor show fingerprints!)
The regular chalks are nice for building up layers of dirt and grime. What I do for these is to grind them up using a morter and pestle, and store them in empty, cleaned Floquil/Polly-Scale bottles. The car to be weathered is finished with a coat of Testor’s Dullcoat. After applying each color of chalk, I spray the car with lacquer thinner. This binds the chalk into the paint, but without de-intesifying the color as much as a coat of dullcoat would. Many times, I will spray a final coat of dullcoat to bind everything together, and again, by building up the chalk in layers, each bound into the paint between layers, the color doesn’t dull down as much…HOWEVER, I have been noticing a problem with dullcoat finished cars–over the years, being in a dark, sometimes damp basement, mold is growing on the car. Apparently, dullcoat contains something that mold likes (and as a Biologist, this doesn’t strike me as being odd or impossible at all). I am thinking that for any future cars I finish this way, the final layer after weathering will be a coat of Polly-Scale or other acrylic flat.
Greg