Grim Rust is a dark orange-brown rust effect from The Army Painter's Warpaints Fanatic Effects John Blanche Masterclass range. This 18ml. effect paint is specifically designed for realistic corrosion, rust stains and weathered metal surfaces on armour, weapons, vehicles, machinery, ruins and industrial terrain.

What is Grim Rust? It is not a conventional colour from a Flexible Colour Triad but a specialised Warpaints Fanatic Effect Paint for rust and weathering. Grim Rust was developed in collaboration with John Blanche and originally appeared in the John Blanche Masterclass Volume 2 Paint Set. Its dark, warm rust character helps metal surfaces appear old, damaged and corroded, fitting naturally into the gritty, gothic atmosphere of the Masterclass series.

Why use Grim Rust? Real rust rarely appears as one uniform layer of bright orange. Older corrosion includes dark brown and red-brown areas, while newer oxidation can appear considerably brighter. Grim Rust provides a darker rust foundation from which this variation can be built. It works as an effect by itself but becomes even more convincing when combined with darker and lighter corrosion colours.

The Army Painter positions Warpaints Fanatic Effects as specialist paints for applications including weathering, basing and realistic rust. Grim Rust is specifically designed to work within this type of corrosion workflow. It can logically be combined with Dark Rust Effect and the brighter Fresh Rust Effect, allowing you to progress from deep, aged corrosion towards smaller patches of fresh orange rust without making the entire surface one flat colour.

How do you use Grim Rust? Shake the bottle thoroughly first. Start with a painted metal surface and consider where corrosion would logically develop: around rivets, bolts, welds, damaged areas, panel edges and places where moisture could collect. Apply Grim Rust irregularly with an old brush, a small piece of sponge or a stippling motion. Avoid creating a perfectly even coat when your goal is natural-looking corrosion.

A straightforward layered technique works well on damaged armour. First create dark chips using dark brown or an almost black colour. Place Grim Rust partially inside and around these damaged areas while leaving some of the dark foundation visible. Smaller amounts of brighter orange rust can then be added. A tiny metallic scratch on selected sharp edges suggests recently exposed metal and provides convincing contrast against the older corrosion.

Rust streaks add further character to vertical surfaces. Place a small amount of Grim Rust beneath a rivet, bolt, damaged area or metal joint and pull the colour downwards with a slightly damp brush. Keep most streaks narrow and vary their length. Making some marks stronger while leaving others subtle helps prevent a repetitive pattern. This technique is particularly effective on vehicles, doors, tanks, containers and industrial terrain.

Grim Rust is equally useful on weapons, chains, fences, exhausts, pipes, tools and mechanical components. On individual miniatures, keep the effect relatively small and selective so important details remain readable. Across larger terrain pieces, you can build broader areas of corrosion using stippling, sponge work and vertical staining. Combining rust with dust, dirt and chipped paint helps make a surface appear genuinely worn rather than simply painted brown.

For bases and scenery, apply Grim Rust to wreckage, metal plates, rubble, rails, barrels and abandoned machinery. One effective workflow is to paint the metal first, add chipped paint and physical-looking damage, and then place Grim Rust around the exposed areas. This makes the corrosion feel like part of the object's history rather than a separate brown mark placed on top of the finished paintwork.

Technically, Grim Rust belongs to the Warpaints Fanatic Effects range. These specialist paints provide different properties for applications including texture, shine, glow, weathering and basing. Grim Rust is specifically focused on creating realistic rust effects. This distinction matters: treat it as an effects and weathering tool rather than a conventional triad colour intended for standard shadow, midtone and highlight progression.

• Type: acrylic effect paint for rust and weathering
• Range: Warpaints Fanatic Effects – John Blanche Masterclass
• Contents: 18ml.
• Colour: dark orange-brown rust
• Original set: John Blanche Masterclass Volume 2
• Product code: WP4018P
• Effect: corrosion, rust patches, rust streaks and weathered surfaces
• Applications: armour, weapons, vehicles, machinery, chains, wreckage, bases and terrain
• Techniques: stippling, sponging, streaking, chipping and layered weathering

Grim Rust is suitable for beginners and advanced painters alike. Beginners can create convincing rust patches quickly with a sponge or simple stippling, while experienced painters can combine several effect paints, dilutions and damage techniques to build complex corrosion. On grimdark miniatures in particular, Grim Rust provides the aged and neglected appearance that gives metal surfaces additional texture, history and visual character.