I cant seem to get washes right, ARGH

smeagol the vile wrote:

Ok, im trying to do an acrylic wash for pannel lines. Im using about 90% to 10% water to paint mixture.

I use Tamiya or Testors Acrylic thinner. 

ah, well that would be the problem.  Thanks. 

Acrylic thinner wont damage enamel or laquer will it?

smeagol the vile wrote:

Acrylic thinner wont damage enamel or laquer will it?

 Acrylic thinner seems to be mostly alchohol. That shouldn't affect dried enamel or laquer. 

dmk wrote:

I use Tamiya or Testors Acrylic thinner.

Same here. I thin Tamiya smoke with it, maybe adding a small drop of dark grey if I need a bit more contrast. Tamiya thinner breaks up the surface tension and allows it to flow easily.

smeagol the vile wrote:

Dish soap trick?  People say that, I tried putting a drop in, all it did was make bubbles.

Wit appologies to Mr. Bond - stirred not shaken - is best after you add the detergent, use a toothpick.  Also, are you having a go on a gloss surface?  I have tried to go on the cheap, without doing a gloss coat before and the results were less than satisfactory.

I dont put it on a gloss surface when I practice, I put it over bare plastic, which, you can figure, is gloss.

So dont shake it? just stir it? il go try

I use plain tap water in a small dixie cup. Then I add a good squeese of soap then the paint to color I want. For me it should be a little thicker than water.  Stir slowing and youo should not get bubbles. Takes about 30-45 min to dry depending on how thick you put it on. Then very easily reomove excess with a cloth or Q-tip.

Gloss surface is a must.  

i build cars and trucks, not yet any military subjects, but i do like to weather my builds and do use washes quite a bit. for the most part i always use Testors bottle paints and thier thinner to make washes, the color "rubber" is one of my favorites and most used. i'm still getting used to Tamiya's acrylics and havent yet had good luck using them for washes. i have also been experimenting with some Mig pigments that i have as well. so far using Tamiya's acrylic thinner has worked well with that stuff as well as thier flat base. i learn alot from military and railroad modelers, so please keep up with the excellent tips and the help!

Dave

dmk wrote:

smeagol the vile wrote: Dish soap trick?  People say that, I tried putting a drop in, all it did was make bubbles. There must be a black science to that. I never could get a drop or two of soap to give me any desirable effect with acrylics either. (and I'm usually all over cheap solutions - no pun intended)

Yup, me, too. 

I take it you're using Tamiya Acrylics for the wash?  I've tried them with not much success.  I started using Polly Scale Acrylics.  I add some Dawn dish washing soap and distilled water.  Works fantastic for me.  There was no staining either.  If I don't like the wash, I can remove it completely with distilled water.  I would avoid using tap water because the hard mineral deposits that can be found in it can causing staining.

-Jesse

Ranger2Seven wrote:

dmk wrote:  smeagol the vile wrote: Dish soap trick?  People say that, I tried putting a drop in, all it did was make bubbles. There must be a black science to that. I never could get a drop or two of soap to give me any desirable effect with acrylics either. (and I'm usually all over cheap solutions - no pun intended)       Yup, me, too.

Use alcohol instead of water & soap...