1/72 Panel lines and Future

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

I have a question. A very simple one but techniques have changed since I was younger.

I am working on a Tamiya 1/72 P-51D that will be aluminum except fot eh glare panel on the nose with is OD. I’ve read about preshading which is out at the moment due to the living arrangements (no airbrushing allowed) so I figured that I would do some shading with washes afterwards. Upon thnking this through I came up with some questions:

  1. Pastels or washes for the panel lines? I use pastels for all my other weathering.

  2. Color to use for panel lines on a 1/72 aluminum aircraft?

  3. I’ll be brushing Future on for decals. Does this mean I shouldn’t use acrylics for the washes?

Thanks for all your help guys and gals!

2

  1. I would use washes for the panel lines. Pastels can be too chalky…especially on a 1/72 aircraft.

  2. Where was it serving? I’d consider a dark gray or raw umber. You may also want to consider a heavily diluted filter wash at the end to tie everything together. Did this recently to “brown” a P-47:

  1. You should be able to use acrylics over Future…just avoid anything ammonia based. AND the general rule is to switch up, so if you really wanted to be safe enamel or oils for washes.
3

Doogs, thanks for the quick reply! I’ve seen your name pop up all over here and can’t tell you how much I appreciate your assistance!

Do you have any suggestions on the thinning ratio if I was using PollyS or Acryl paints for the washes?

4

Unfortunately, I don’t. I tend to use craft or artist paints for washes, and it’s something I’m just kind of diving into. I’d recommend starting very light (5-10% paint), then adding more until you get the strength you want.

I’m sure someone else with more direct experience with acrylic washes will be along with an answer in no time!

5

Are you talking about tole paints or oils? Just curious what others use.

6

I usually use enamels for my washes but you shouldn’t have any trouble with acrylics over Future, just make sure the Future has had time to set up well, I’d give it a day or two just to make sure. I agree with Doogs’ 5-10% estimate, it’ll flow better that way, especially in 1/72 panel lines.

7

I mostly use Winton & Newton artist oils from Hobby Lobby:

I’ve also picked up some acrylic craft paint and tempera paint to try, but haven’t had occasion to use them yet.

8

Acrylic is fine for washes over future, I’ve done it many times. However I have recently started using artists oils for washes and really like them. They provide a much longer working time, are easy to work with, you can mix the colors right on the model to adjust the shade, and if you don’t like how it is turning out, you can cjust wipe it off with a paint thinner dampend paper towel. The only down side is the long drying times, which can take hours (I usually leave it alone overnight), but that long drying time is what make them so easy to use.

The oils are kind of expensive, $6-7 a tube but a tube will provide enough for years of use. You can get away with 3 or 4 colors to start, black, white, yellow ochre and raw sienna is what I started with.

9

That’s why you look for sets that are more economical than buying a couple of tubes. I purchased a Reeves set at Hobby Lobby containing 24 colors, used the 40% coupon and was under $8. The tubes are smaller but they last for ever.