After finishing the Trandoshan Hunters, I wanted to get started on the AT-ST from the Imperial Assault Game.
While I aim for a traditional grey look for the Imperial walker, I decided to try out a weathering technique I have never tried before: Salt Weathering.
The idea is the use salt (of the more coarse kind) as a random masking-material to create a weathering effect. I hope to achieve a rusted, worn-down look.
If it works, that is.
Step 1 – Brown Undercoat
I started by spraying the miniature with a coat of Citadel Mournfang Brown.
This should provide a brown, „rust-like“ colour to shine through the grey painting of the AT-ST thanks to the salt weathering.
Step 2 – Preparing the Salt
While the undercoat dried, I collected the materials for the salt weathering:
- Rock/coarse-grain salt
- A bowl (to catch salt sprinkled over the miniature)
- Some water
- A well-used, older brush
Step 3 – Applying Salt to the Miniature
Once the miniature was dry, I applied water to areas I wanted to weather. Afterwards, I sprinkled the wet parts with salt, which sticks to the moist areas.
I thought I was quite liberal in the application of salt, possibly overdoing it.
It certainly felt like a lot of salt at this stage. In retrospect, I probably could have added a bit more.
Step 4 – Grey Basecoat
After everything was dry, I sprayed the miniature with the actual basecoat I wanted to have for the final paint job. In this case, I used the basic matt grey from Humbrol, which seems like a good shade for Imperial vehicles.
Step 5 – Removing the Salt
Finally, the magic trick. Removing the salt with a soft brush to reveal parts of the brown under the grey basecoat.
Having never done this before, I was excited to see how this would turn out and was very pleased with the result. I expected to do worse on my first try.
That said, the weathering effect wasn’t nearly as excessive as I feared.
I am may have to be careful to keep the weathering clearly visible as I start to paint the miniature …
Black Forest Wars 