I am on the finishing stages of my Phantom.
I wanted to finish it off with a wash. I have read that there is an oil wash and a sludge wash. Are these the same thing? or different?
Do i add this on before sealing in the decals with a clear coat or after?
Also, what is the mix ratio? and what color should I use?
Thanks in advance for the help.
I only use oil washes so I’ll try to answer that part of your question.
For an oil wash thin the paint extremely heavily- it should be heavily tinted thinner, not thinned oil paint.
Then, take a very fine brush, and dip it in your solution then gently touch the panel line. Capillary action should draw it some distance down the line. Repeat until all panel lines are done.
To remove excess, wait about an hour or so, then take a q tip slightly dampened with mineral spirits and remove an excess you want to. Make sure this is all done over a high gloss acrylic surface.
As for color, I woulduse a very dark brown on the Phantom, or a very dark grey, depending on what camo scheme you have on it.
That’s all there is to it. [tup]
Second part, Sludge wash… Mix up acrylic paint color your using to wash and mix with dish soap and warm water to thin in. Use the same method for application as tankmaster explained over a glossy surface then again as tankmasters method explained, use q-tips dipped in warm water and dampened to remove excess from around panel lines.
Air Master
Nah just throught it in dishwasher[:-^][:D] I my self have just started useing the method that tanky talkin about and i love it.
Thanks for the help guys.
I tried the sludge wash last night on a model i test things on. I mixed my ratio of paint, water, and dish soap. It went on well, waited about 15 minutes and wiped it off. Came off ok. I noticed that the recessed lines are accented. I also noticed that the rest of the wing had this dirty look. Now here are my questions.
Did I wait enough time to wipe off the excess wash?
Also, please do not laugh at me, should there be a dirty look or a clean look? I ask this cause the example Swanny has on his site lookes like the area around the recessed lines look really clean.
Thanks
I get that same “dirty” area around a recessed panel line. Drives me nuts. I think it may because we do not have enough sealer on the plane.
I have also used a sharp drafting pencil to do panel lines and that looks real good. If I use the pencil, I put it on before I clear coat. Grips to the paint better, but I know some will argue this point. I have not had any problems erasing etc…
As far as dirty or clean goes, I think it is a personal choice. Many want their models to be a representation of “the actual war bird” out in the field. Others prefer the clean look of a freshly painted bird. It depends on the kit too. Most US navy planes look grungry to a point but I think a crew chief might be better to answer that.
I often use different shades of the same paint color to get variations and minor dirty, but that is my choice. I do put all the weather on AFTER I do the delcals though.
It really comes down to you and what you like. I understnad how difficult decission this can be though. You spend all that time working on the interior, wheel bays etc… and then fear ruining the entire model with the weathering. It can be nerve racking. [V]
BEst of luck. Post some pictures so we can see your work
Rod
I think the problem is because the surface was not glossy enough. Before doing any kind of wash, it is really important to spray a gloss coat all over the model. The wash will not adhere too hard on the glossy surface and therefor will be easier to remove.
[#ditto] Make sure that the wash has dried completly before you wipe it off! I normally let the dirty look be, because I am normally trying to dirty up the plane anyway, so that just makes it a little easier to do it. If it gets real tough to get it all off, just use a Q-tip and a little rubbing alcohol on it to remove the stuff that is hard to get off. Good luck and post some pics when you get done!
PK, with just warm water and dish soap wipe down the dirty areas again with paper towel wetted and dampened with it and it should come off with some light rubbing. Yes you waited to long and that is my fault because I failed to mention you need to clean it up as you go and dont let it dry outside the panel lines unless your going do a dirty bird.
Sorry about that.
Air Master
Thanks Sky, Yann, Eizzle, AirM for the advice. I do not mind the dirty look, I think it is cool looking. All the models i have done in the past have had the clean look. I will weather my plane tonight and post pics soon.
Thank you all again.
Glad it helped PK![tup]
Air Master
Tried my new technique saturday night with not so well results. I think I used to much dish soap and nothing would stick. I took everything off and will try again tonight.