Wash for figures?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I posted this in the Techniques section a few days ago and got no replies. So I thought I’d try posting here.

This has been my first serious attempt at painting the figures for a plane. And I think they look pretty good for my first time. But I have seen pics of figures that look like a wash has been applied. I’d like to make my figures look like this. How is this done?

Here is the picture I was talking about. If this happens to be yours, I’d love to know how you did it.[:)]

2

Yep- That’s a wash. It’s applied in the same way you use a wash for airplanes.

3

Yeah I agree with you Sphealey.
By the way Aviator,you can use a wash on anything you model its not limited to panel lines and armour the beauty of modelling is the artistic license it gives us![:)][:)]

4

I used to paint Warhammer 40K figures in my 20s, and I used to start with a base color, then apply a darker shade of wash - usually ink based, then gradually lighten the base color with white, or white & yellow (depending on the base color) to brush on smaller and smaller highlights until it got to almost white at the edges of clothing, tops of creases etc. Another very thin ink wash over the top to bring it all together (be careful with that one), and they’d look fantastic! My figures used to get admiring comments, so I must have been doing summit right! [;)]

5

Thanks for all your help. The whole model was kind of being held up by this. I tried the wash and next time I’ll know how to do it better, and hopefully not make very many mistakes. I already put on the Future and let it set for a few days, so when confirmed it was a wash, I was ready. So now I am letting the second coat of Future dry and then I’ll spray somthing flat on it. After that, I’ll post some pics.[:D]

6

OK, after almost a week, I have them finished. They didn’t come out like I had hoped, but I think they’re good enough.[:I] Next time I’ll know how to do it better. I took so many pictures and this is the only one that’s good enough to post. All the others were blurry. I hope the flash didn’t wash it out too much.

7

They came out very nice. Good work.

Regards, Rick

8

not bad! all my figures look like shit. however i havent tried hilites and washes and clearcoats yet. Good job, you gave me some courage!

9

Thanks guys. I have never tried painting figures (to this extent), so it was kind of intimidating. It seemed like it took a long time, but I guess I’ll get better with practice.[:)]