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.

Hello all - the last of my GW washes are starting to run out and I've been looking for replacements. I've tried a couple of washes from different companies but found that they tend to be quite gritty (and one thing I will say is that the GW washes are very smooth).

Does anyone have any particular good experience with washes from any particular company? I want one with a good range of colours, both bright and muted. Dropper bottles are not required but I would not say no

Make the stuff yourself!
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/261541.page

Army painter have reportedly bought their latest washes from the old SW suppliers. THey claim to have equivalents for Badab Black, Gryphonne Sepia and Devlan Mud.

Their Dark Tone Ink is the old badab black. It seems exactly the same and works well.

WE haven\t bought their Devlan Mud equivalent.

We also own the Soft Tone Ink, I think it's called, which is supposed to be Gryphonne Sepia - I'm more disappointed in this one, pretty certain it's more grey/dirty and less toffee-coloured than Gryphonne sepia. I've just bought the P3 mid brown, which looks promising.

gealgain wrote:
Make the stuff yourself!
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/261541.page

I do make a lot of my own washes, I just want something handy and ready made so I don't have to mess around

The army painter ones are pretty good to use, and a pretty good match.

http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/devlan-mud-and-badab-black-wash.html

http://taleofpainters.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/review-army-painter-warpaint-inks.html

http://taleofpainters.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/review-army-painter-warpaints.html

Hmmm... the Army Painter "inks" look pretty good. Might have to look into picking up a set - thanks guys.

Although anyone with other suggestions, please still make them

Secret Weapon Washes are supposed to be super awesome, but I have not tried them yet.

How do you guys view Vallejo's washes? I've been using them for a couple of weeks but I'm having a bit of issues with them lifting when painting over them.. maybe I need to wait longer for them to dry..?

 Kanluwen wrote:
Secret Weapon Washes are supposed to be super awesome, but I have not tried them yet.

I have their heavy black and even with lots of shaking before use iy can still come out grainy and patchy. It was one of the brands i looked at to try out when my gw supply ran low. I might try out a couppe of other colours from tgem to see if i just got a dud bottle or somethinh.

Tupos as on phone and walking

I just tried Cote d"arms light brown wash. It's dreadful. Kind of dusty and bitty, and gives an overall messy look rather than sit in the recesses.

To make matters worse, I have a tiny amount of Gryphonne Sepia left.. it reminds me why I miss it. I would try a direct comparison with the AP Soft tone but someone's borrowed. I'll try it when we get it back.

I'd add a tentative recommendation for Secret Weapon.

They have some very interesting colours (I use dried blood and algae quite often) but they do seem to leave a high gloss finish, not a problem if you routinely flat coat the finished article (I do) but could be a p in the a if you don't.

 Tommy wrote:
How do you guys view Vallejo's washes? I've been using them for a couple of weeks but I'm having a bit of issues with them lifting when painting over them.. maybe I need to wait longer for them to dry..?

Only used one (Flesh Wash), but I haven't had or even heard of any issues with lifting. It's a bit thicker and more intensely pigmented than a GW wash, at least straight out of the bottle, but behaves almost identically, once thinned. Longer dry time should solve the problem.

Army painter are realeasing a wash set soon, you can get it from their website.

I think the Secret Weapon armor wash is FANTASTIC. I use it on all sorts of stuff. I also have soft black, heavy black, and green, which I use less frequently.

Army painter dark tone is useful. Was always a fan of the badab black. However, for patina (that green stuff on the Statue of Liberty), I make the stuff myself from paint and water. Good for rusty ork vehicles.

Coat d'arms have recently brought out a new range called super shader, its very similar to the gw washes, ive tried a couple if them and they do leave a shiny finish, personally I prefer the army painter ones, just not keen on the dropper bottles

FW use Daley Rowny artist's inks (http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/advancedsearchresults.aspx?filter=Brand~Daler-Rowney/&query=artists-inks) mixed with GW glaze medium.
Might be worth a shot??


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Cheaper here: http://www.discountart.co.uk/category/daler-rowney-fw-acrylic-ink-295ml-bottle

Personally I'm a big fan of Winsor and Newton inks, they're developed for artists and cost around £6 a bottle (30ml). They can be used straight from the bottle, or thinned down to nearly nothing without leaving " tide marks".
They can also be allowed to dry and then feathered out with water, the only disadvantage is that they need sealing or they will run if you get them wet.

Put some varnish or glaze medium in the mix - this should fix it.

Thanks for the tip, I've just been sealing between stages.

Bubbatron wrote:
Coat d'arms have recently brought out a new range called super shader, its very similar to the gw washes, ive tried a couple if them and they do leave a shiny finish, personally I prefer the army painter ones, just not keen on the dropper bottles

It's not really new as it's been out for several years. Nor is it really a wash and is more analogous to the polyurethane that you would use for dipping models.

 Ghaz wrote:

Bubbatron wrote:
Coat d'arms have recently brought out a new range called super shader, its very similar to the gw washes, ive tried a couple if them and they do leave a shiny finish, personally I prefer the army painter ones, just not keen on the dropper bottles

It's not really new as it's been out for several years. Nor is it really a wash and is more analogous to the polyurethane that you would use for dipping models.

Agh I meant super WASH not super shader...

You're right about the shader being more dip-like