ABTPF605 Graveyard Dirt vs ABTPF611 Stainless Alloy Pigments

Two pigments, two different jobs

ABTPF605 Graveyard Dirt and ABTPF611 Stainless Alloy come from the same Abteilung 502 pigment line, but they are not interchangeable. One is a dirt tone for ground, mud, and dust buildup; the other is a metal tone for bare-metal and alloy effects. The supplied catalog describes both as safe for use and non-toxic, made with organic pigments. Beyond that, the records list no preparation steps or application instructions, so treat any technique you see online as a general modeling method rather than a manufacturer procedure.

That distinction matters when you are choosing between them. If your goal is a dusty diorama base or a tank that looks like it has been through mud, Graveyard Dirt is the more direct match. If you want a metallic sheen on exposed panels, tracks, or worn edges, Stainless Alloy is the one to reach for.

What the catalog confirms about each pigment

• ABTPF605 Graveyard Dirt 20ml: ABTPF605 Graveyard Dirt 20ml is described as an Abteilung 502 pigment safe for use and non-toxic, made with organic pigments. Safety and composition are the only application-relevant claims the record supports, so you can compare the two products on equal footing.

  

• ABTPF611 Stainless Alloy 20ml: ABTPF611 Stainless Alloy 20ml carries the same safe, non-toxic, organic-pigment description. Neither pigment is positioned as a specialty or hazardous product, so your choice comes down to the effect you want, not safety differences.

  

Graveyard Dirt vs Stainless Alloy at a glance

The catalog lists both pigments under the same Abteilung 502 line and gives them the same safety wording. The meaningful difference is the color effect each name implies.

• Color and effect: Graveyard Dirt reads as an earth/dirt tone; Stainless Alloy reads as a metal tone. The supplied records do not include swatches, particle size, or sheen data, so judge the final look on a test piece before committing to a model.
• Best-matched subjects: The catalog says Abteilung pigments suit dioramas, scale tanks and planes, model railway, wargaming, and sci-fi subjects. Within that, Graveyard Dirt fits groundwork and mud; Stainless Alloy fits exposed metal and alloy surfaces.
• Volume: Both are supplied in 20ml containers, so you are comparing color, not quantity.
• Safety wording: Both records state safe for use and non-toxic with organic pigments. The records do not list separate warnings for either product.

Where each pigment fits in a build

Graveyard Dirt is the pigment to reach for when you want to suggest accumulated earth: the crevices of a diorama base, the lower hull of a tank, or the recesses of a ruined wall. The catalog lists dust, rust, oil marks, and mud among the weathering effects the Abteilung range covers, and a dirt tone is the natural starting point for the mud and dust end of that list.

Stainless Alloy is better suited to surfaces that should read as metal rather than soil. Think exposed tracks, chipped panel edges, or a sci-fi subject where you want a bare-alloy look. The catalog does not describe a metallic sheen or particle finish for this pigment, so test it on scrap plastic or a painted spoon first if a specific metallic look is critical to your project.

You can use both on the same model, but keep them in separate work areas. Dirt pigment tracked into a metal effect, or vice versa, is difficult to correct once it is worked into a surface.

Choosing between them

• Choose Graveyard Dirt if: your subject needs earth, mud, dust, or ground texture, and you want a pigment that supports diorama and armor weathering.
• Choose Stainless Alloy if: you want a metal-toned pigment for exposed panels, tracks, or alloy surfaces on a tank, plane, railway, or sci-fi model.
• Buy both if: you are weathering a single subject that has both dirty lower areas and bare-metal upper areas, such as a tank on a muddy diorama base.

What the records do not tell you

The supplied records do not include preparation steps, fixer recommendations, thinning ratios, or application tools for either pigment. They also do not state a drying time, a coverage rate, or a particle size. If you need those details for a competition build or a client project, check the Abteilung 502 packaging or the manufacturer's own documentation rather than assuming a method.

The records also do not confirm a metallic sheen for Stainless Alloy or a specific color match for Graveyard Dirt beyond the product names. That is a limitation of the supplied information, not evidence that either pigment lacks those qualities. A quick test on scrap material is the most reliable way to see how each one behaves under your own lighting and topcoat.