colour washes ????

[percy1510]

Hello everybody
I am looking for some general advice on colour washes. I have been building these tanks for a while now but the one area that I seem to struggle with is colour washes. I can do a nice cammo job and a bit of weathering and am generally pretty pleased with the way my models turn out but when I see photo's of models that have had colour washes they look a lot better than my tanks.I need to master the art of washes to take me to the next level.

so my questions are

1. what would be the mix of paint to thinners because I may be mixing my washes with too much paint

2. how to apply the wash. IE do I airbrush it all over or apply liberally with a big brush or even more accuratly with a smaller brush.

3, What to use, I always work with Tamiya acrylics so can I use this for a colour wash or should I use a different type of paint.

4,Any advice or tips would be very much appreciated because whenever i find any sort of build thread they gennerally say that a wash was applied but always assume the reader knows exactly how to apply one.

I know that this is a basic moddelling technique so my questions are a bit simplistic but I just really struggle with it

thanks in advance
Glyn

[Gunshy]

I'm doing washes for the first time, basecoat in Tamiya acrylics, varnish with acrylic varnish, then use oil paints mixed to a water consistency with Methylated spirits. A gloss varnish helps the mixture flow round bolt heads, small details. Then just damp off the excess with a paper towel and a brush/ cotton bud dipped in meths.
The varnish should protect the basecoat. I've been trying out things first on an old 1/2 finished 1:35 tank before applying it to my 1:16.
There's loads more to it, I'll be interested to see what some of the experienced chaps say.

[tankmad]

Everyone has different methods and colours they like to use with me it depends on the tank the colour of the tank and what effect I am after so the rules are flexible but use a different kind of wash to the paint you used to paint the tank or the wash could take the paint off unless you want this effect and we are back to the flexible rules. With the KT I am doing the now the pictures you will see before and after have been done with first of all I used a Matt varnish mixed with a little matt black to dull the paint down. I then used a wash with 90% thinner to 10% matt dark brown and brushed it on with a large soft brush make sure the paint stroks go the way water would flow off the tank. On the sides use verticle brushing let it dry then if you want give it another coat like I did with this tank an as Gunshy says you can then take some off with cotton swabs etc hope this helps.






Stevie

[percy1510]

Great Tips guys and what a difference the wash makes to your KT Stevie.
90% thinners to 10% paint, I will remember that.
Am I correct in thinking that I need to use a gloss varnish over the paint to get the washes to flow properly?
I also read about people putting more than one wash on a model, I can see the difference your brown wash has made to your KT but what would a second wash in a different colour achieve?

Glyn

[tankmad]

Hi Glyn you would put a second wash on if you thought the first need a bit more remember it's a lot easier to put more on than trying to take it off because you put too much on. If you are painting the tank green I use a white wash to weather the tank it gives the green a faded look.
Stevie

[percy1510]

I have just started a pzr 4. It will be painted dark yellow with brown and green scribbles (like the one on the tamiya p4 box art). Would dark brown wash be correct for this colour scheme ?

[tankmad]

Hi Glyn if you want to darken it dark brown or black would do the trick.
Stevie

[percy1510]

Cheers Stevie
I think I will go with the dark brown

Glyn

[edpanzer]

Cool tips I'm trying to take them all in thank you

[dgsselkirk]

For the lighter areas try Tamiya buff thinned out it really works well and isn't quite as stark as white...