Help w/ Sludge Wash - not going well for me

Hi Mitch,

Sounds like you are having the exact problem I had the last (and only) time I used the sludge wash. Did it overflow the panel lines and stain the surrounding area? I used artist acrylics (like Music City), and the Future cured for at least a week, so I don't think those were issues. I also tried wiping the excess off within a few minutes to no avail. After consultations with others and review of my method, I think my problem-and possibly yours- is that I didn't add enough soap/detergent.

I ultimately used a wash of Mineral Spirits and artist oils,and it worked wonderfully.

Hope this helps,

Mark

Well I get a 100% success rate with sludgewashes and I got the same with oil washes. I prefer the sludge wash more though!

cheers

Mike

This is why I keep telling people to use a simple thinned oil/enamel wash in the panel lines. applied with a very fine brush and allow capillary action to pull it along. It works, it's traditional and it is not going to set you up to ruin a model you've put a ton of work into at almot the last step.

QUOTE: Got to be careful with any ammonia based cleaner like Windex, it will strip off Future and acrylics if applied too heavily and too long.

That's why I said "Moistened" (with emphasis!) and "Don't rub too hard or too long". I usually let the Future dry a couple of hours before starting a wash, and as long as I just lightly rub the Windex moistened Q-tip over it to remove the excess acrylic wash it doesn't hurt the Future at all. Rub hard, rub long, and you are absolutely right. With artist's acrylics (not sure about modeling acrylics) all it takes is a quick wipe and they are gone.

I used black poster color added with dishwashing detergent(remember do not add water and control yr amount of detergent).Apply on the surface and let it dry first,then use damp brush to wipe off the excess! If u don't like,wash it off and try again!

Got to be careful with any ammonia based cleaner like Windex, it will strip off Future and acrylics if applied too heavily and too long. I use cotton buds and/or microbrushes moistened with water. If your sludge wash recipe is right, water will remove the excess easily.

cheers

Mike

Thanks everyone, especially Scott, for the web page.

I think the root of my whole problem can be traced back to Future. I used to use an enamel clear gloss coat, out of a 12 oz spray can ("rattle can"), and when I went to remove the excess wash with alcohol, it didn't affect the clear coat. When I first tried this, I was using Tamiya acrylics (OK, water based paints) and using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol (isopropyl), and it was bringing the Future up.

I will try letting the Future dry longer, maybe a month or two...haha. Couple of days longer may do it.

Hi Mike,

thanks for that, I was doing it differently: I usually apply a coat or 2 of Acrylic varnish to the cokcpit/model and then apply a the wash with acrylic paint, but I do agree with you that black is a pain, for panel lines I use a B graded lead pencil, but I will try your recipie, bake at 180 deg. for 45 min, then put on a cooling rack......just kiddin' ....thanks a million for your help. will let you know

regards

Gianni

Use a Q-Tip moistened (not wet, just moist!) with Windex.

Edit .... This is why I prefer an acrylic wash to anything else. I don't think you can leave it on too long or get the mix wrong. As long as there is a coat of Future under it Windex will do the trick, just don't rub very hard or for very long. I frequently find spots that need cleaning up days after I do the wash, and I just use enough paint and water until it looks "About Right".

Second edit ... Forgot to mention that I always use artist's acrylics. Here's a page on how I do a wash: http://www.craigcentral.com/models/wash.asp

Sounds like you got the mix a little incorrect. I have had this happen to me as well.

here is the recipe....

2 parts acrylic paint of appropriate shade and colour
3 parts dishwashing detergent
5 parts distilled water

Mix together (do not shake) and apply into the raised and recessed areas as required. Wait 15-20 minutes for the wash to dry and remove excess with a damp cloth and/or cotton buds. The detergent slows full curing of the paint.

Remember not to use too stark a wash. I avoid black all the time as it makes a patchwork quilt of a model, certainly in the smaller scales. I am a great believer in scale affect!

cheers

Mike

Or not enough dish soap...it's not called a "sludge wash" for nothing.

Or the Future was:

a) too thin and your wash leeched into your base coat (unlikely, since you said "several coats")
b) not sufficiently dry (more likely with the "several coats" quote)

Or you waited too long between application and removal, allowing the wash to dry

There are a lot of things that could have gone wrong, but without detailed information, it's difficult to pinpoint the cause.

Too much paint?