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Would be better to pre-highlight or do the two techniques produce basically the same effect?

For clarification I am painting the new Bloodthirster and already have the model primed in black.

BOTH! The highlights will make the color more vibrant and the wash will get into the grooves better. Try an oil wash for better effect.

 lambsandlions wrote:
BOTH! The highlights will make the color more vibrant and the wash will get into the grooves better. Try an oil wash for better effect.

Agreed. BOTH! Highlight using the airbrush building up the highlights, then airbrush on a gloss varnish get a smooth surface and then use your wash (oil or whatever) and it will run into the recesses and not discolour the larger surfaces. Then, when dry, hit it with a mat varnish (if you so desire).

How well does oil adhere to acrylic?

Also would it be easier to try to just apply the wash to the recesses instead of the whole section or does that give a different look/effect. forgive my questions still a newbro painter.

If you ONLY airbrush highlight, the model will look rather flat, depending on the model you'll want to do a wash and maybe even a hairy brush highlight to go along with your airbrushed highlights.

I have actually been preferring enamel washes over oil washes lately, they just seem to work better for me, dry faster and clean up better when you use enamel thinners. In either case you need to do a gloss varnish first and allow the varnish a couple of days to cure so that the white spirit (or enamel thinners) don't strip the acrylics.

I second doing both. The effects are different and compliment each other.

Thank you all for your replies and help. Also thanks to Awaken Realms for his video I was able to see what you all were saying the two techniques were separate and complimentary (sometimes being a visual learner is tough)

BTW the video I was speaking of is the new Bloodthirster painting tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjhl3R1hq-Q