Beginner wash technique question

thank you....great site indeed. Wonder why it didnt show in my web search :) :)

thanks again

I highly recommend the aircraftresourcecenter. It's a great site with lots of awesome tips. They are going through quite a few changes right now re: their servers and hosts, but they always have daily updates of reader models and reviews. It's definitely on my 'daily' review list. If you want some good laughs, go to the Test Post Clubhouse and enjoy the archives...

Great site...

M.

Hi, I have not actually used a "wash", but I too am intersted in it. I found a good site that discusses the different types of washes and how to apply it. It actually sounds really simple. Go to:

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/

Then click on "tools n tips" at the top of the page, then scroll down and click on "washes & weathering". The tips are there.

Also, as you can see, this site has tips for basically everything. I read through most of them and learned a lot. Quick point I pickeed up is that if you are working with clear parts, dip them in Future floor polish and after it dries it looks like glass. I do it for all my aircraft canopies now.

Hope this helps.
Paul

Another thing to keep in mind about washes. Think of the wash as tinted thinner and not thinned paint. Too much paint in the thinner will darken the model.

cool...thanks for the info

As to the second part of your question about chalks, these are artist's colored pastel chalks. Don't use oil pastels, as they will make a mess. Usually you can make a powder by sanding the pastel and then use an old brush or cotton swab to put it on the model. The most useful colors are the earth tones, brown, tan, rust, but grays and blacks can be used to simulate some types of staining, and the dust is gray in some places.

There are a few other 'Wash' questions in this forum and you may want to check the contributions from everyone! My advice, though: use a different kind of paint/thinner combination than the one used on your base coat. So if you paint your model with enamels, using a wash made of enamel anf white spirit could destroy the first coat of paint, while a water-based colour wash (or alcohol-based such as acrylics) will not react with the enamel below. Water based washes also have the added advantage of being easy to remove if you're not happy with them: just place the model under the tap..!

I'm not an expert on washes either, but basically a wash is thinning paint heavily (like 7 parts thinner to 1 part paint) and painting the wash over details. For recessed panel lines you can use a wash and then re-visit later and wipe away the surface, which will leave the recessed line darker and the panel surface clean. (I have yet to try this method, but will be doing so soon as I am finishing up my final coats now.)

You can also dry brush, but this technique takes practice. This technique works best over raised detail. Basically load your paint brush with the desired color, then brush onto a blank piece of paper until there is barely any paint left (key word...BARELY) then lightly run the brush over raised detail. it pops out....just when you think you need one more stroke to finish up....STOP!

Good luck, if you have any more questions just post them and I'll help you out!

James