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.

I am just about to start painting models again after over a decade out of the loop. I have seen Nuln Oil mentioned so many times so I bought a pot. It just looks to me like a black wash so I ask, why is it so special? I haven't actually used it yet so what can I expect it to do when I apply it?

It is just a black wash. but black washes are quite handy. Nuln Oil over steel creates a nice grimy look quickly and easily.

People like to over hype GW washes, like they can't hoppy w/o. It is just a black wash. One of the more meh ones too.
Go army painter dark tone. Better coverage and doesn't pool as much.

It's a black wash that dries matte. A lot of other black washes don't do it nearly as well.

Look around for directions to make your own washes. It's cheaper by far than buying GW if you do a lot of painting.

I would say aggrax earthshade is far more important, well for my painting style at least.

I'm a brand new, firm believer in Army Painter's Quickshade. It's a bit lighter a shade than Nuln Oil (more to the tune of Agrax Earthshade, but not precisely) and saves me tons of time on big batch projects....although your minis smell like wood varnish afterward (a plus for me! )

The GW washes are quite good, as they cover and pool well in the recesses; however, they are pricey. There are other companies making washes where you get nearly twice the amount. P3, Reaper, etc.

I do find going over every paint job with some sort of wash critical - either overall in one color, or various colors to drop those shadows and then a dry brush highlight to pop the raised areas to make an instant difference in your painting and it is much quicker that layering paint colors - it suits my quick and fast paint style!

 hybridmoments82 wrote:
I'm a brand new, firm believer in Army Painter's Quickshade. It's a bit lighter a shade than Nuln Oil (more to the tune of Agrax Earthshade, but not precisely) and saves me tons of time on big batch projects....although your minis smell like wood varnish afterward (a plus for me! )

Quickshade strong tone = brown wash, like Agrax. Dark tone = black wash, like Nuln Oil...

We’re currently developing our own ones at INSTAR, currently we’ve made a preshading wash for models that are primed white to bring out detail with no pooling in crevices while leaving a nice matte finish.

We’re still working on the others though and should have more results soon

It is made out of 100% Nuln.

 Niiai wrote:
It is made out of 100% Nuln.

Eh?

No Nuln where harmed during the making of this product.

Common misconception.
Nuln oil is oil for Nulns, not oil from Nulns.
Whale oil is from whales, baby oil is for babies.

 Cream Tea wrote:
It is just a black wash. but black washes are quite handy. Nuln Oil over steel creates a nice grimy look quickly and easily.

It isn't just a black wash, Badab Black was just a black wash. Nuln Oil also has a slight tinge of brown to it too (hence the name), it's incredible subtle, but its there. You can see it far more clearly when it's in the pot than on a model.

Nuln oil is a matte very dark brown/black wash. It has it's uses.
If I want a true black wash I use Secret Weapon's washes.

I use a variety of washes and shades often on the same model. Each one operates differently.
Army Painter Dark Shade is great for when you need a nuln/agrax like shade that stays in place.