How to Weather You Warhammer Models

This post is part of the Notts Hobbies 30 Day Army Painting Accelerator, Click here to get your free copy.

Weathering adds depth and narrative. A clean model looks like it just came out of a box; a weathered one looks like it’s lived through campaigns, battles, and harsh environments.

It helps your miniatures feel grounded in their world, whether it’s a scorched wasteland, a jungle outpost, or a bloodied war zone.

Beyond looks, weathering also softens transitions, hides small mistakes, and can make tabletop models look more cohesive when viewed from a distance.

Drybrushing is one of the easiest ways to add wear. Using a drybrush and minimal paint, you can lightly apply metallics or earth tones to edges and raised areas. For example, drybrushing silver over black can simulate chipped paint or worn metal on weapons and armour.

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An oil wash can create the effect of grime, oil, or age. Apply the wash to crevices, panel lines, and lower areas to simulate dirt buildup. You can also use controlled staining to add streaks or discolouration where water or fuel might have run down surfaces.

Sponges can dab small, random chips on armour, vehicles, or weapons. Focus on areas of high wear, edges, corners, and around hatches or joints. It’s a quick, easy way to simulate battle damage and paint loss.

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When weathering, less is more. Start light, it’s easier to build up weathering than to fix overdone effects.

If you're unsure how it should look, you can use references. For inspiration, look at real-world rust, dirt, and worn materials.

Sometimes, it can help to think about the story of your mini’s. Where would your model logically show wear, feet, elbows, and weapon tips? Let narrative guide your technique.

Weathering doesn’t require advanced tools or techniques, just creativity and attention to detail. As you experiment, you’ll discover how much more dynamic and believable your miniatures can become.

So grab a sponge or an oil wash, and start telling your model’s story, one chip and stain at a time.

This post is part of the Notts Hobbies 30 Day Army Painting Accelerator, Click here to get your free copy.

Glossary

Drybrush – Is a wide paint brush that doesn’t have a tip, designed for drybrushing

Drybrushing - a miniature painting technique where most of the paint is removed from the brush so it deposits paint on the raised surfaces of a model.

Sponge Chipping - a paint-dabbed sponge is lightly applied to edges and surfaces to create realistic chipped or worn effects

Wash – A thinned-down paint that runs into the recesses