graphite sticks

I never clear coat after I put the pastels on. Never liked the effect and also reduced them visually. After the pastels are on, the kit becomes hands off territory.

O.K.
To make sure I understand this correctly, If I were to do an oil wash, accoding to swanny's website: (to be more hands on and permanent)

Start after a future base coat

I get an oil based paint (will acrylic work?). dilute it to the point it is the consistancy of coffee.

"wash" the plane with the mixture (is that like dipping a towel into it and then rubbing down the plane)

After about 5 minutes, wipe off any excess.

Apply future top coat

To be honest, I don't think acrylics will work over future. I strongly suspect it is water-based as well. Thus, the solvents might damage your future coat. I also work with acrylics mostly. What I do, is to spray a clear enamel or Tamiya's clear spray (X13, I think). That does not get affected.

The wash: you made the thin wash. Now just take a brush and you can either brush it on where you want it, or let it syphon into panel lines by just dropping in a little. Either way, you end up with a rank mess. I then wipe a cloth/earbud with a little bit of thinning agent (for acrylics that's either Tamiya acrylic thinners, Windex, or whatever your preference is) over this "mess". You should end up with a cleaned up model, with your recessed darkened.

Best is - try on a scratch piece to get what you're comfortable with.

Good luck & enjoy!

CState -

I use Pastel (chalk) powder. Spray color coat, let dry. Do panel lines, chalk dust. Spray clear. Decal. Add more dust, if necessary. Spray light coat of dull or semi-gloss.

One note, spraying over the dust can lighten it, so you generally have to use more than you'd initially think!

Archer out.

thanks for your input guys.