Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Does anyone know how to make washes? i read somewhere that its 1:10 ratio of whatever color to water, can someone give me some insight into this?

Thanks!

Yeah that's pretty much it. You want it diluted enough so whereever you brush it on, the paint won't stick but seep into the crevices. It should be about milk constency.

Well I've never heard of it before. You would be better off just buying the washes rather than spending money buying various paints to attempt to create washes.

Well see the thing is, my local GW manager showed me a new way of painting models, i tried it with black today and VERY pleased with the how it came out, there was no need to highlight because the washes did everything, and the details really stick out. The method was easy and took mayb an hour tops to paint the entire model (yes thats a long time). I think the method can be used for any color, so i was going to make a wash of a random color i had lying around and attempt it on a dummy model.

The Method was (Painting Death Company)
1. Base Coat the model white, allow to naturally dry.
2. Wash the Model with Badab Black, Allow to naturally dry
3. Wash the Model 2 more times
4. Paint on details
5. Wash the model Again.

In theory if i was painting blue armor id wash the model 3 times, paint details, wash the details with badab black and then wash the entire model again with the blue wash. Thats my idea anyway...

Side Note: I'm a decent painter no where near commission quality. but the method was easy and it really makes the model stand out. Ill see if i can post pictures on the next one I paint.

1) Buy a bunch of the Daler Rowney FW inks (made for airbrushing and stuff)
2) Buy Liquitex Ultra Matte Medium

3) Mix medium and water at a 1:1 ratio. Add a drop or three of Liquitex Flow Aid to that mix.
4) Add drops of FW ink to your mix.
5) Shake
6) ???
7) Profit

8) Send a note to Les at Awesomepaintjob.com thanking him for this awesome recipe.

If you're doing small batches (like rust or something) on your pallette. Consider adding some isopropyl alcohol into the mix. A drop or two should do it for a 1:10 ratio of paint to water+flowaid. It really really removes any traces of capillation, but also evaporates fast. So work quick.

YMMV

You should add some dish-washer detergeant too. It helps break surface tension.

I hate to be the downer here, but it is like 3 bucks for a wash. Wouldn't you spend more money experimenting with different paints and proporton and it would not end up being entirely THAT cost effective? Just my two cents. Pixlpusher may have something there though if you already know the proportions.

Torch wrote:I hate to be the downer here, but it is like 3 bucks for a wash. Wouldn't you spend more money experimenting with different paints and proporton and it would not end up being entirely THAT cost effective? Just my two cents.

Because there is no need to experiment, and it is actually a lot cheaper over the long run? I mean we are talking about GW here, who charge $15 dollars for a $4 can of spray paint.

Pixlpusher may have something there though if you already know the proportions.

There is a big olde thread by that Les guy, professional wash maker extraordinaire, right here on Dakka which has quite a few wash recipes.

Ya the costs are def out of control... what kind of spray paints do you use?

Valkyrie wrote:You would be better off just buying the washes rather than spending money buying various paints to attempt to create washes.

Hardly seems economical when washes are the same price as paints, but ten times more watered down. I can water down my own paints thank you very much.

Does anyone know how to make washes? i read somewhere that its 1:10 ratio of whatever color to water, can someone give me some insight into this?

I personally wouldn't even worry about it. The bottom line is that you shouldn't be using paint straight out the pot anyway. Every time I paint, the paint goes onto a dish first, and I mix it with water and retardent to get it the right consistency. Only then does the paint go on a model. For washes it is exactly the same procedure, only with more water. Even when I put the wash onto the model I will still sometimes paint on a bit more water till I feel it is just right.

I don't really see any need to pre mix washes, when you can just water down paint on the spot to suit whatever you are washing. Even the washes you buy need to be watered down to get them just right. And even if you did manage to mix the perfect wash, that doesn't mean it would still be perfect in 3 weeks, or that it would be perfect for every situation.

Fred Johnson wrote:

Torch wrote: Pixlpusher may have something there though if you already know the proportions.

There is a big olde thread by that Les guy, professional wash maker extraordinaire, right here on Dakka which has quite a few wash recipes.

These are the proportions that Les uses (used?) for making his first washes. I didn't add anything, and for me, the recipe has worked wonders. Initial cost is a bit more than buying washes from Citadel, but if you get a bunch of friends together to share the initial cost you have enough material for washes for everyone. In 50ml bottles no less.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEkMnP6p08I <= the video Les did.

A word of advice though, stay away from the Liquitex inks. They dry rubbery compared to the FW ones. Which can lead to unexpected and unwanted results if you completely wash a model with it.