Acrylic Over Acrylic Washes... Can it be done and how?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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I also posted this in the Paint & Airbrush thread but hope I’ll get my answer faster here.

I have been doing acrylic washes over acrylic paint for a while but rarely get the results I want and resort to the tedious process of a graphite rub to get weathering effects.

Has anyone done this and how did you do it?

Any advice or info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

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The problem with Acylic over Acrylic is that the wash may have the tendancy to strip the acrylic paint underneath. You could get around it by using an enamel or oil wash. This wouldnt effect the base coat at all. Another answer is a newish product called promodeller washes. These are clay based and are pretty good. I use them religeously. All you have to do is ensure you have a good clear coat over you paint 1st. (Future or the like) then swab the washes on. Give em a few minutes to go off then wipe away. Have a look at thier website. Theres even demo’s on there.

www.promodeller.com

Good luck.

…Guy

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My washes are Tamiya smoke (with a drop or two of black or an earth color for added contrast) thinned with their thinner (about 6:1), applied over a gloss coat of Future that’s had at least a day to cure. Never had any problems. In fact, I like the results I’m getting better than anything I ever did with oils or enamels.

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[#ditto]

The ProModeller washes are the way to go. Simple to use and effective.

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Bro, I tried your technique using Polly Scale flat black to dirty up the landing gear on my 1/48 Revell F/A-18C Hornet and I got the result I was looking for. Not to dirty but not to clean either just the way Navy Hornets landing gear should look when they are on deployment.

Thanks bro! [:D] Cant wait to try this wash on the entire model. [tup]

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The general guidance has also been to use Acrylic wash over enamel and use oil wash over acrylic. You might try spraying a clear lacquer gloss over the acrylic before doing the acrylic wash but I suspect you’re using acrylic paints instead of “real” paint to avoid the fumes in the first place so I suppose that lacquer is probably not an option.

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AMM,

I just tried an acrylic over acrylic wash for the first time. I posted pics on the “Big Slow Hurri” thread that is on page 2 or 3 by now. I used a dark green wash over the dark earth surfaces of the Hurricane. I just made a VERY watered down wash of the dark green and sopped it up in a small area of a cotton cloth, then rubbed along the dark earth surfaces in the direction of airflow. I’ll be doing more soon so stay tuned to that thread if you want to see how it turns out.

Like I said - this is the first time I’m doing it - so don’t judge the method by my results. I’m sure it can be done well.

As long as the painted surface has been dried for a day or two before applying the wash, I doubt you will have any problem with the acrylic wash dissolving the acrylic base paint underneath. I haven’t have any problem like that.

Let us know how it turns out if you try it.

Chris

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Thanks Boss,

Your Hurri looks darn good to these old eyes.

I tried Rudd’s technique on the landing gear with a thin coat of Future as a barrier on the landing gear and it came just the way I expected. Now mind you I am building a Revell 1/48 F-18 Hornet. Primary colors are Lt. Ghost Gray and Dk. Ghost Gray so my wash is going to be just a little darker than Dark Ghost Gray. My wash will be almost black but still gray since I dont want the panel lines to stand out too much and also because the particular Bug I am doing had very little weathering.