Washes that don't attack enamel paint

You can use Acrylics for washes, not sure howyou would make them. Have you considered a clear coat to protect the enamel,such as future or Alclad Aqua gloss.

Yes I do use Future acrylic clear coat. Is it resistant to mineral spirits ?

Yep. I use White Spirits (same thing) for my oil washes and as long as the clear coat is done right, it will be fine. I apply 2 or 3 light coats to be sure.

MonsterZero

...Can I use acrylics mixed with water for a wash?

 

Indeed, acrylic washes are the way to go. Easy to clean up without damaging the underlying paint.

Oil washes are easy as well and will somewhat buff off or rub into the paint. 

Some fabulous effects can be made with both with some experemtation.

Go and have fun.  :)

I exclusively use enamels on my models and make my own solvent type washes with artist oils and Testors enamel thinner. As a barrier I use Future, Alclad Aquagloss, and MM clear Flat Acrylic depending on the weathering technique.

Future or Aquagloss are great to use when there are sharp details to capture such as panel lines, louvers, grills, bolts etc. The clear acrylic gloss will have the wash settle around these details to pop them. If done over a flat finish, the wash will usually bleed away from the details as the flat finish will act as a whick.

For filters I like doing them over a flat clear acrylic surface because they have superior  blending qualities than a gloss coat. 

I have used acrylic washes and have worked sort of ok but I like the solvent type better cause they flow better and don't dry so fast as acrylics, giving you time to fine tune things.

This came up very recently in another thread....

fermis

I use nothing but enamel paints (model master)....and I use lacquer clear gloss. For a panel line/rivet wash...you want to do this after the gloss, decals, and gloss again to seal in the decals.

I mix my own washes using cheap acrylic craft paint from a craft store. Maybe a 1/10 paint/water ratio and a couple drops of dish soap. It takes a bit of trial-n-error to get a good mix. you can always add a little more paint or water for your desired result.

When I'm ready to "wash", I'll brush a a brush load of wash across a wing(for example), then rub it all around with my finger and keep rubbing it around until it's almost dry. lwt dry...it'll look like a real mess! Then I wipe away all the excess with a damp cloth (piece of an old t-shirt). Really easy stuff!

I'm about to hit the bench and I just happen to be at the wash stage. I'll take some pics of the process and post em here for ya, in a little while.

 

fermis

Alright, here we go...

You can see the acrylic craft paint. I mix a batch in an old paint jar. This will last for a bunch of builds!

Brush on some wash...

Rub it in...(you will need to brush some, next to high spots, that your finger just can't get into)

As it starts drying, wipe in the direction of airflow (sometimes, some streaks will remain after wiping away the excess...further enhancing the weathering)

Once dry...just takes a few minutes. Wipe away excess with damp cloth...

Before/after

With small models, such as a 1/72 P-51...you can wash the whole thing at once. For bigger stuff, I work in sections (as with this example)

Once wiped away, sometimes you'll get some inconsistancies. I use a smaller brush to add a little more wash and let it dry, wipe away...

left side washed...

Hope that helps ya some!

 

Fermis, your post reminds me once again how this forum could really use a "like" feature!

the Baron

Fermis, your post reminds me once again how this forum could really use a "like" feature!

 

If it had the "like" feature....I would "like" you post!!!