I read somewhere that you can mix isopropyl alcohol and acrylic paints (redish brown) to make a “rust wash”, but unfortunately the article that I read didn’t explain how much to use of the paint to alcohol ratio!? Can anybody help me!? Thanks!
Start on the thin side and be sure its over cured enamel paint, isopropyl will tend to lift acrylic paint. Add a dab of orange to lighten the red / brown and start out really light as you can always go heavier. A drop of dish soap will break the surface tension and flow better, I advise using ‘pin washes’ around rust parts and not a whole wide swath. Good luck and if in doubt experiment on something other than your latest work. Good practice is to do the same base coats to where it is now, that way you will know the exact results.
Jason
*Weathering powder (rust color) works awesome as a wash and can be brushed off after its dry if the effect is to strong.
WOW, honestly, I would NOT use isopropyl alcohol to do washes! If you’re going to do acrylic washes, use straight tap water and cut it with some dish detergent. Or some people would say to use deionized water or whatever that stuff is called. You know; you are supposed to mix it with your antifreeze?
Isopropyl alcohol is potent stuff on some paints. It can bleach out the color of some, or lift others. There is NO “correct ratio”. You have to experiment and learn through trial and error.
My advice? Use oil paint washes. MUCH better results and MUCH easier to work with than acrylics.
Well just my two pennies here. You CAN use Iso pin washes, but I would not recommend a normal wash. Doog is correct about how the Iso will react to some paints. If your base colors are enamels then it isn’t too bad, but never over acrylic paints.
To rust a model you don’t have to give it a rust wash, instead like Doog said, use oil paints to apply a rust filter.
You can thin acrylic rust colors and use them for pin washes if thinned with water, or a mix of Iso and water (50/50 mix). Using 40% iso is not too bad, I use it quite often, but stay away from 50% and higher, your asking for trouble if you don’t have any experience with it.
I am currently rusting my E75 with thinned Lifecolor rust paints and they work great with just water.
Good luck and hope we helped you out in some way.
Cheers
Rob
When useing acrylic’s for a wash, I thin with straight windex. I thin down to about a 50 - 50 ratio but I have only applied on top of enamel and it has never given me any negative effects. By useing the Windex it prevents in from beading up in one place and is easy to work the color where you want it.
Rob