What type of paint is best to use as a wash over acrylic paints? I live in a small apt with my wife and I had to switch from enamels to acrylics because of the smell, and location where I build my models. There is nowhere else I can set up my work bench other than where it is.
I’ll refer you to Swanny’s excellent how-to http://www.swannysmodels.com/Weathering.html.
A website to bookmark!
yup… and I switched for much the same reason even though I am in a house… artists watercolors, artists acrylics and even artists oils with the Turpatine or Turpenoid oderless Turpentine substites don’t smell at all.
The site Bill referred you to will tell you all about how to use them… Good luck!!
I always use water colours, usually the tube stuff, over a coat of Future.
Black watercolour can be a bit stark, but Burnt Umber works well.
Karl
Winsor and newton Watercolors for me! Just love the stuff!
lately, i’ve been using ink for washes. I found a nice pen-refill type of container with non-opaque sepia ink and thinning that with water and some ivory dish soap (thinner than most others and doesn’t smell like a damn lemon tree…) makes a really nice wash. It doesn’t form rain spots and doesn’t attack the acrylic. I’ve actually used it without a gloss coat on some figures but took care in applying it. The other nice thing about the mixture is if you store it in a jar the pigment won’t settle to the bottom like it’s done for me with oil colors and even enamels. Plus it’s zero-toxic.
I’ve actually sat down with a test piece painted with acrylic+future and rubbed it with q-tips dipped in different solvents. Ironically, brush cleaner (i think it was Testors) was on par with water. The strongest ones (ie one swipe and it runs) were isopropil alcohol and mr color enamel thinner (that stuff is REALLY strong). Most enamel thinners were so-so but, having made a wash with floquil thinner, i happen to know that it makes a future coat curl up into orange peel. I used a brush cleaner + enamel/oil for a while but now i think i’ll stick to the ink+water+soap concoction.
Artist’s acrylics for me. That’s all I ever use. The best thing to do is try several and find one that YOU like. It doesn’t matter what we like, all that counts is what you like.