Question about washes

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

I’m about to darken the water inlet holes on my sub model with black lightened up just a little.
I just sprayed the sides of the sub with gloss lacquer.
I’m not sure if I should use thinned enamel paint to do the job or thinned acrylic paint.
I’ve heard that thinned enamel paint can eat away at the gloss lacquer.
I’ve also heard that spraying a lacquer overcoat over acrylic paints can cause problems.

Just wondering what type of paint I should apply for the wash and what type of overcoat should I apply afterward.

Thanks very much,

Dave

2

I’d go ahead and use the thinned enamel. I think the only thing that’ll eat the lacquer paint is lacquer thinner. Enamel thinners are very weak by comparison. I can’t say for sure about the acrylic if alacquer overcoat would eat it or not but I think if sprayed in light coats it should be fine. Hope this helps! [:)]

3

I like artists oils personally. You can get water soluable ones that can’t possibly hurt your paint or the regular ones that might if you use them carelessly. If you use a bit of care however, they’d be fine as well. There’s a very good article on this in the latest FSM. Check it out if you can.

4

Just to add another totally different perspective, I use artists watercolours.

The lure of these for me, is that if I make a complete pig’s ear of it, I only have to wash them off and start again.

I just apply the watercolour roughly, let it dry, then wipe away any excess with a damp tissue. Et voila, shadow wash!

Karl

5

I sprayed my model with Testor’s gloss lacquer. I used a wash of enamel thinned with testors enamel thinner. It seemed to eat into the lacquer coat.

I’m wondering, if you use a acrylic or watercolor wash, can you spray a coat of lacquer over that after it’s dry?

Thanks,

Dave

6

Dave, in short, yes you can.

I’ve sprayed Future and acrylic varnishes over the top of watercolour washes without any problems.

Karl

7

Karl,

Thanks very much for the info. I think what I’ll do from now on is when painting with enamels, spray clear gloss lacquer or acrylic over the paintjob, then do a wash with acrylic or watercolors, and seal with a flat acrylic overcoat.

Thank you,

Dave