Dipping vs washes

[Colonel White]

Just read through the download myself and I couldn't find any references to any additives at all.

A little flow enhancer or washing up liquid will help the washes or very diluted paint to go into the areas you want it.To be honest it would be a very good habit for you to take up and I don't think you will be looking back once you start. I use my flow enhancer in an old ink bottle with a dropper fitting. THis makes it far easier to add to mixes.

[clivethecelt]

Thank you for the pointers, gentlemen. Some experimentation on some old Citadel and Ral Partha minis is underway at present - to the lab, Igor!

[Colonel White]

Another good thing this method is good for is as follows.

If painting large units of infantry it can be very laborious doing all the highlights the traditional way such as layering .

A system I have now used for some years now is that I prime all my troops in white or grey. I mix very dilute paints ( a bit thicker than wash consistancy) and apply a little flow enhancer. This will allow the paint to flow into the creases leaving the top edge of the white primer showing (but slightly stained by the colour) which will give you instant highlighting without time consuming procedures. Obviously the effect it isn't quite as good as a fully layered model but it will allow you to field highlighted models in large numbers.This affect is also reliant on the model have creases in the uniform or other details to form crevices.

As the paint is very "wet" , natural drying time does take longer but this can be speeded up by gently drying with a hair dryer. I must emphasise the word "gentle" here as well otherwise you could blow the paint off the model!

Once fully dried I then use the Army Dip method after this process, my way with a brush!

[clivethecelt]

That is excellent, thanks - sounds much easier than trying to get the right shade by experimental layering. Got some flow enhancer at Fred Aldous in Manchester the other day (was like a kid in a sweet shop!), I'm going to give that a whirl tonight!

[Colonel White]

Next time your in the craft shop , take your time and have a good look around. There are many things that I have tried on impulse from a craft shop.

Examples are the following.

Halographic sequins to use on a GW 40K Tau Army as the Badge and insignia for my army.

Chamelion Paint. Spray paint normally used on Motor Bike tanks for customisation. This changes colour depending on the angle it is looked at. I did a 40K Necron Army with this paint and I still have the army but I have had decent offers to sell it.It is really jaw dropping but canot be replicated on camera and does have to be seen to appreciate it. The colour I used was a Metalic green which changed to bronze.

I still use occasionally old fashioned inks which are obtainable from stores like this .

My most recent acquisition have been Indian Ink pens for use to replicate German Camouflage as the edges can be feathered using these with out the use of a air brush. All the different shades of colour I have now found in this range.

[clivethecelt]

Really only went in looking for some rare earth pigments, but came out with a few things, including a neat little stainless steel sculpting tool (looks like an old bit of dental equipment) and a curved rat-tail file (flats at one end, round at the other), perfect for filing on curves. They were only £2 each. She Who Must Be Obeyed wanted to go to Kendals, though, so that was then end of that.

[bobrunnicles]

As it happens , I was looking at the grey wash at Brian's Store and noticed despite being there for communal use , nobody has yet tried it.

I am just wondering if it would do the job for the Victrix Nap Austrians when they get released?

The grey is a nice lighter wash for whites. I used it for that purpose on some other minis. I am ashamed to say I owned some Warmachine once, for a couple of months, and chose a white paint scheme. The grey wash was great.

A grey wash that works great on whites? Man I wish I'd known about this before I painted 2/3 of a White Scars Space Marine army for a guy at my club......

So speaking of Dip for Napoleonics, for French, would the Dark Tone be too dark? I'm not worried about brushing it on, would that be the solution maybe? Or should I look for the Soft Tone?

[grant]

As it happens , I was looking at the grey wash at Brian's Store and noticed despite being there for communal use , nobody has yet tried it.

I am just wondering if it would do the job for the Victrix Nap Austrians when they get released?

The grey is a nice lighter wash for whites. I used it for that purpose on some other minis. I am ashamed to say I owned some Warmachine once, for a couple of months, and chose a white paint scheme. The grey wash was great.

A grey wash that works great on whites? Man I wish I'd known about this before I painted 2/3 of a White Scars Space Marine army for a guy at my club......

So speaking of Dip for Napoleonics, for French, would the Dark Tone be too dark? I'm not worried about brushing it on, would that be the solution maybe? Or should I look for the Soft Tone?

I use the Dark Tone, brush it on, and make sure you clean the drips and pools as it dries. Winning!

[Erosthenes]

Has anyone tried using Miracle Wash? It is a 1:20 mixture of Future Floor Wax with water and add toner to taste. For large projects make a batch large enough for all the boys your painting so no alternate coloring. It is by far the least expensive method, and the results are excellent. Not sure what floor wax one could use if one is not in the States, but I am certain some enterprising fiend could send you a bottle for the price of the wax plus postage. It is dirt cheap here, not sure about the postage..........

[grant]

Has anyone tried using Miracle Wash? It is a 1:20 mixture of Future Floor Wax with water and add toner to taste. For large projects make a batch large enough for all the boys your painting so no alternate coloring. It is by far the least expensive method, and the results are excellent. Not sure what floor wax one could use if one is not in the States, but I am certain some enterprising fiend could send you a bottle for the price of the wax plus postage. It is dirt cheap here, not sure about the postage..........

It works, for sure. I think it's kind of old school, and the Army Painter is the new wave. I have a bottle of Future in my hobby cabinet still. It's got to be 10 years old! Still haven't gone through it all. LOL.