Try a kneaded eraser, sometimes called putty rubber, a pliable material that looks like putty or gum and is used by artists to remove charcoal or graphite. I use it to hold parts while painting. Like poster putty, it can be shaped to grip items temporarily. And it comes off without marking or marring surfaces.

If you use pastels or pencils for weathering, the kneaded eraser can be used to smooth and smudge the materials. It can also be used to remove them, kind of like an, um, eraser. The putty actually absorbs the graphite or powder and doesn’t wear away, so there’s less friction and no eraser residue.

Kneaded erasers are inexpensive and can be easily found at art-supply stores.

Tip submitted by:
Robert van der Gon NetscherShady Side, Maryland