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Forums - Modelling / Painting |
The painting forum is for the discussion of techniques on the painting, decalling and weathering phases of AFV modelling and the tools and materials used. |
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| Subject: | MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks |  |
| Date: | Feb 10, 2006 |
| From: | Nemanja Pavlovic | |
Greetings Dan,
With regards to MiG (or even MMP, Stardust, CMK, et al.) versus ground pastel chalks, allow me to elaborate a bit.
I have used both Pastel Chalks and MiG pigments and will discuss their composition, application and affordability.
COMPOSITION.
Both contain raw pigments: the raw granulated material that gives them their colour. The earth coloured ones (such as the browns, blacks and rusty reds which we are mostly concerned with) are basically variants and forms of natural or artificial Iron Oxide (Rust). You will also find Titanium dioxide as the white (pure or mixed in with others colours) and/or Chromium Oxide to produce a dull greyish-green (mostly mixed into the other colours). Don't worry, these are fairly safe materials.
Now the MiG pigments are just that, the raw pigments ground into a find powder, then mixed together by MiG to give you the colours they market as "Standard Rust", "Europe Dust", "Industrial City Dirt" etc.
Pastels are dry chalks made of pigment and a weak, nonwaxy binder that serves to hold the pigment particles together in the form of chalk sticks. Pastel chalks use the raw pigments, occasionally precipitated chalk, and, of course, a Binder. The binder is made from a heavily thinned natural gum such as Gum Tragacanth or Gum Arabic, both made from the sap of bushes found in the hot, semi-arid climates of Africa and Asia. The binder is mixed with the pigments to form a thick dough which is formed into sticks then dried.
APPLICATION.
MiG (and other pigments) come in their powder form and can immediately be applied either with a dry brush or moistened with a liquid then applied. Pastels need to be broken up either by grinding them on sandpaper or by pulverizing them using a mortar and pestle. They can be applied using the same techniques as MiG style pigments.
I have noticed the following physical difference between the two products. The MiG pigments seem to clump together probably due to their particle size and static electricity. Pastel chalks when ground on medium fine sandpaper (i.e. 120 grit) produce a fine powder that does not seem to clump. While I have certainly not measured the particle sizes, I don't think that the chalks are discernably courser than the MiG pigments. I think they just lack the static electricity. I have noticed that the dry MiG pigments do seem to want to adhere a bit better to a dry surface than the chalks to the same surface. They both adhere better to a rougher, i.e. dullcoated, surface. I have yet to try mixing the chalks with a thinner (i.e. turpentine, alcohol, etc.) and applying them, but will let you know how it turns out.
AFFORDABILITY.
Though prices vary based on where you buy them and on the currency used, allow me to offer my experiences. All prices are in Canadian $. A 20 ml jar of MiG pigments costs around $4.50. A set of a dozen earthtone pastel chalks cost me $10. Each stick is approx. 7-8 ml of material.
Now get this, you can by and mix YOUR OWN pigments quite cheaply and have a lifetime supply. Better art stores sell raw pigment powders that you can mix yourself. You would want the Siennas, Umbers, Ochres as well as a black and white. For example a 4oz (approx. 120 ml) jar of Gamblin artists dry pigment might run me approx. $8. Therefore I get 6 times the pigment for less than twice the price. The only drawback is that I might have to (gasp!) mix the colours myself. The upside is that I can produce any colour I want and have a lifetime supply.
I've recently found a source (where I buy my resin casting supplies) that will sell me a POUND of pigment for approx. $6. That is a lifetime supply for me, my friends and my local IPMS chapter!!
If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Nemanja. |
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 | MIG Powders? - Dan LeClair - Feb 10, 2006 |
| . . . Re: MIG Powders? - Jim Wechsler - Feb 10, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders? - Alex Hill - Feb 10, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders? - ed turner - Feb 10, 2006 |
| . . . MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks - Nemanja Pavlovic - Feb 10, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks - Steve Frost - Feb 11, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks - Nemanja Pavlovic - Feb 13, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks - Steve Frost - Feb 14, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks - Robert Garelli - Feb 15, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks - Nemanja Pavlovic - Feb 16, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks - Steve Frost - Feb 16, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: MIG Powders vs. Pastel Chalks - Dan LeClair - Feb 16, 2006 |
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