Newbie question: Dark oil washes drying light

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

Hello,

I’m fairly new to washes, and don’t see my problem listed online. My current project is a Tamiya M41 Walker Bulldog, and I’m attempting to add panel washes with little success.

The base color is Tamiya PS-9 Green spray. I then coated it with Testors spray lacquer. The wash is a mix of Artists’s Loft lamp black oil paint and Grumbacher odorless thinner.

When I add the wash, it goes on dark. However, after about 10 minutes, the dark wash dries as a chalky gray color.

This happened once when I tried acrylic washes, so I thought I’d try with oil. Same problem.

Thank you in advance for any tips!

2

If this helps, I just tried another brand of paint (Winsor & Newton burnt umber oil), but achieved the same effect: After drying, it turned a chalky pale brown.

3

The washes do lighten a little once dry but i have never had them go chalky. I use W&N and the occasional MiG oil.

How thin is the wash, panel line washes should be thicker than a filter wash.

4

I use W&N and Master’s Touch oils with Terpenoid thinner and they both get chalky as well. As soon as the finish coat is sprayed on the chalkyness disappears and the shades of wash get darker.

5

I tried this just now, and it seems to be working. I’ll check again tomorrow to see if anything has changed. Thanks!

6

I’m using about 4 parts thinner to 1 part paint.

7

Sealing after washing seems to be restoring the dark color. Thank you!

8

Hello!

I believe this problem is connected to the thinner that is used. I had the same effect when I used Humbrol piants thinned with lighter fluid (an experiment). When I used airbrush thinner instead, the washes retained their dark colour. Hope it helps, have a nice day

Paweł