Panel line accent that works with enamel?

The standard technique tends to be to spray a coat of an acrylic or laquer based gloss clear coat over the enamel so that you can decal and panel wash.  Then you spray a coat of clear flat over the decals and wash to seal it all in.  If you go to youtube, there are several videos on using future/pledge as a clear coat for decals and washes.  

You can make your own washes from oil paints using a mild thinner like Mona Lisa that will not affect dried & cured Enamel base paints. Or pre made water based washes like Flory's will not bother an Enamel base coat. Acrylic paints themselves tend to make poor washes in my experience. 

Check out flory models on the web search. English company and a great guy. It is a superior product. Brush on, wait 2-5 min. to dry and wipe off with a damp paper towel. Never stains paint. Use over sealed paints usually.

http://www.florymodels.co.uk/

I mix my own with cheap craft paint. Little bit of paint, lotta water, and a drop or two of dish soap. My usual mix is a bit of black and raw umber...not a fan of stark black. Sometimes, it does take a little bit of "trial-n-error" to get the mix to your liking. Being very cheap, it's easy to add more paint, if needed...or if there's too much paint, dump some out and add more water.

I use enamel paints and lacquer gloss. A soft, damp cloth easily wipes away excess wash from the gloss surface...just don't let it sit too long!

I have done panel line washes over enamel without clear coating first, but usually do it after clearcoating.  I use a pinwash, so only a small amount of pin wash is used.  I apply it with a homemade tool.  I took a medium size sewing needle, ground half the eye off with dremel and abrasive disk, leaving a fork, then jammed point into a length of dowel for handle.  On light colored aircraft I do not use a black wash, I use a medium to dark gray wash.

So I am thinking the flory model wash may be the solution? I am guessing as it is clay based the type of pain used it not really an issue?

Wouldnt a wash also be far less time consuming to get the same effect at the panel line accent?

I have yet to find a thinner for oil or enamel washes that does not harm ename lpaint. I always use Flory washes on aircraft.

As mentioned it can be applied just to the panel lines, don't need to be to precise, and then remove excess after a few minutes. I use a damp cotton bud and followed by wiping over with tissue. Thats what i did on this Reaper drone.

For a slightly dirtier look, i apply more liberally and leave for loner tyhen remove excess in same way.

The wash on this avenger was left for 24 hours.

And for a very dirty look, you can apply to a matt finish.

I can wash a 1/48 plane and remove the wash all in 30 min and it looks great. I cannot praise this enough especially for aircraft. and its cheap. And if you mess up, romove it all and do it again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrCueONhuko&t=660s

I also use Flory Washes and love the effect they leave. You slop on the product and let it dry. I then use a water moistened Q Tip or a small piece of damp paper towel to wipe in the direction of the airfoil and it creates subtle streaks and stains. Just make sure you have a dedicated brush for the Flory product to prevent contamination. 

One thing though, as with any pin wash you need a gloss coat on first otherwise the Flory product will be absorved by the flat paint and act like a filter and will stain the finish. As Bish said, over a flat coat it will dirty up the area.

Having the gloss coat on will ensure easy removal from unwanted areas and easy flowing into recessed details like the panel lines, louvers, etc producing sharp demarcation lines.

Acrylic ink works from Michaels For pinwashes.

One trick I have seen folks use for acrylic washes is to add a very small amount- just a small drop- of detergent to the thinned wash to lower the surface tension of the water.

I'm also a huge fan of Flory Models' washes. They are very easy, very forgiving and come in a wide variety of pigments. They are the easiest by far, in my opinion, for doing washes and enhancing panel lines. Just apply over a smooth finish and wipe off the excess with a damp cloth.

Don Stauffer

One trick I have seen folks use for acrylic washes is to add a very small amount- just a small drop- of detergent to the thinned wash to lower the surface tension of the water.

 

 

Have done that but still, oil washes are better IMO.

Tojo72

I recommend Flory Washes for pinwash,so easy to use.