What's the difference between airbrushing panel lines vs. a dark wash?

" My old boss's son is a squadron chief on the USS Washington, so I've seen a few photos. The planes never looked that dirty."

Berryboats, I wonder if the panel lines on those F-14 photos popped or were they rather subtle?

What is a good formula for a wash? And are there "no-no's" for paint as far as enamel over lacquer or vice versa?

I did notice that the F-14 builder did take a fine line pen and really darken the actual recess of the panel lines. It did look great, but a little too dirty for me. My old boss's son is a squadron chief on the USS Washington, so I've seen a few photos. The planes never looked that dirty. But for modeling sake, I think it's like the cinema or movies, a little makeup makes the actor stand out.

Pre-shading, the airbrush trick, darkens the area around the panel line, not just the panel line itself. You have to be very careful with this method.  Only the dirtiest, heavily weathered aircraft show this.  And there is nothing wrong with doing both. In fact, I believe if you pre-shade you should also use a pin wash to darken the actual panel line.  a panel line with pre-shading (darker area around line) looks a little funny if the panel line itself is not very dark.

They compliment eachother. I'm a bigger fan of post-shading, but there is less room for error. Also, never use just one color. When post shading and fading your base coat, use a lighter color in panel centers and around corners and raised areas, and use a darker brownish color for reccessed areas. Same with a wash. I usually mix up 2 to 3 different shades of washes and apply them where I see fit. The key to weathering is finding a method that works for you, instead of copying someone else step by step each time.

airbrushing can also be done as post shading on panel lines. Although the technique described in the original post is definitely pre shading.

You can use both methods.  The former is termed a pre-shading technique, while the wash method is a finishing technique, or done in the latter stages.

Point taken about the F-14 example (no, it's not my build), but these methods can be applied lightly or heavily - depends on the modelers' taste.  

regards,

Jack

It's all in the application. They can look good either way, but may be more easily airbrushed on a kit with raised panel line detail than a wash. Washes on raised panel lines require more effort to get right. And yes it is very much a matter of personal taste and skill level.