I've tried an acrylic wash, but to no avail. I've used an enamel paint, so I decided to use acrylic. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks for your time.

Hi ya, I have also tried acrylic washes to no avail and have switched over to oil which is the cats meow. Oil gives a much better wash and allows the user time to wipe areas deemed overdone. I dont think you are doing anything wrong. It just seems very tough to get a good acrylic wash.

Me again....may be a dumb question....did you first coat your vehicle with future before the wash???

A "wash" in acrylics doesn't really exist in the same manner as in enamel/oil terms. A good wash is mixed more than 1:5 (one paint, five water). You have to control the wash more than you are used to since spirits flow better than water (and evaporates quicker too). Acrylics depend on the build-up in colors which has made the transition from the enamel/oil route to acrylics frustrating. I'm not quite there yet, but I don't think I'll be going back...

I've used the "how-to" the that valejo paints website offers and I have enjoyed the results. The valejo site is found here.

I haven't used the future tip yet, but I can see the definite pros of doing that.

You're not the dumb one. I have no idea where I can find it. Also, is it a spray? Oh, and thank you, HunterCottage. That helps. Thanks for your time.

Me again. Future is an acrylic floor wax that can be found in your local grocery store cleaner section. Comes in a plastic bottle and is airbrushed ( or brushed on). Nice part is you dont have to thin it. If you need more info on Future and its reason for being used..Ask away!

Okey dokey. Can one use Future on enamel painted models, or does it have to be just acrylic? Also, where can I get it? Thanks for your time.

Okay, I'm back again. I was wondering as I re-read HunterCottage's link: On it, it said that many people forget to shake their paints, and then they complain that their brush is mainly thinner or water with only a bit of paint. Well, I noticed that some of my Testor's acrylics have a layer of "thinner" on the top. Well, could one use that for a wash? Thanks for your time.

i've never heard of washing with acrylics! i use enamels...

MEBM: Yes I'm sure you could, but I wouldn't nor would I suggest it since you don't know the mix ratio of thinner to paint. Washes are possible with acrylics, but as I stated before it is the build-up that makes the washes work. Therefore it is very important to know how the wash will work otherwise you might need to re-do a whole area. In this sence acrylics are less forgiving than enamels since they dry too quickly. The reason I'm trying to stick with acrylics is the fact that I just don't like the smell from enamels or oils, but this one fact makes my faith in acrylics waver at times...

Okay, I have some Future. Now what? Thanks for your time.

MEBM: You want to use Future as thin as possible so as to not lose detail. One or two thin coats will help give a uniform staging area for highlighting and shading. The smooth surface will also help the paint flow to where you want it. A matted paint has a rough surface when compared to a gloss paint. Future is used to give a gloss appearence and a smooth surface. Let the model/figure dry thuroughly before you continue, if you don't you could get adverse reactions that most likely would mean re-doing what you started doing. Patience is a virtue...

After I get it on and weathered, how do get it back to a flat finish, or do I? Thanks for your time.

Once you get the wash to your liking, Just spray a coat of flat finish over it to get rid of the gloss. I use either Model Master Flat clear acrylic or Microscale Micro Flat.