Reverse Wash: Light over Black Paint?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

If I were to paint black, how do I bring out the panel lines? Wash white or light gray?

Thanks!

2

It depends what effect you are trying to produce. For a dirty grimy look, maybe raw umber. For a rusty look, some burnt sienna. Even burnt umber will stand out lighter on a black background, but may not give a look you want.

3

I usually go for medium grey over blue & black finishes, like on Navy/Marine birds and Nightfighters…

But then I don’t wash them either… I use pastels on those colors…

4

Well, the plane will be a black tomcat. It will be a clean aircraft. Any ideas?

5

I believe those were pretty much show birds and were kept pretty clean and shiny. I’d forego the panel lines on it.

6

So, just plain satin black?

Thanks!

7

I’d go high gloss overall, satin for the nose, flat for the canopy frame. Check the picture…you’re getting a clear reflection fo the sky on some surfaces.

8

Years ago I did the Monogram “Black Bunny” Phantom… Painted 100% gloss black, it just didn’t look right…

9

ok…here, take it from a seasoned modeler…PRE-COAT with a STEEL(GUNMETAL) color and THEN put the satin black

sure to give you a WOW reaction…let us know how it went

10

You may want to go with a semi gloss finish instead. Enough there to suggest a shine but not overdone.

11

Brett Green advocates a mix of 50/50 Tamiya Flat Black with Red Brown ( XF 64 I think ) as he says the result looks black but is not really black so you can wash the recesses with pure black ( a darker black, in some aspects ). I’ve never tried but I’ve seen photos and it looks good. Now this was made with flat paints and should be transposed to glossy ones.