I'm sure this has been asked many times before, (and if it has I'm sorry) but:
When using enamels for a wash, do I thin them down with turpentine or enamel thinner? (And are enamels better for this than acrylics?)

I just cannot get it right as of yet.
Thankyou very much.
Harry

Harry,

You can use white spirit, but if you have it the Humbrol Thinners is the best it is less likely to cause damage to the paint coat if properly dry and dries faster. I dont know the difference chemically but it smells very different from white spirits.

I have used acrylic but prefer oils or enamels.

John

if you painted in acrylics then you should wash in enamels or vice-versa

Thanks John, yes I do have Humbrol Enamel Thinner, so I will now use this.
Anthony, I painted with enamels, is there a certain reason why I should wash with acrylics?

Finally, should I use a dark colour or just plain old black?

Thanks again,
Harry

Harry,

Have a look at the articles at this link, they are really good as to various techniques.

http://www.missing-lynx.com/rareworld.htm

Anthony,

I only ever really use acrylics nowadays, However if you airbrush Klear over the surface as washes like a gloss finish to work properly, then you should be able to use oils/enamels as washes. Just make sure everything in the prior coats have dried before each application.
Personally I find that oils/enamels are better for washes, but there are others who prefer acrylics. You might like the articles too.

Hope this helps,

John

Harry The reason behind doing a wash of acrylic over enamels or vice-versa is that the wash wont lift off the base coat. If you use an acrylic wash on acrylic paint or enamel wash over enamel paint,you may lift off the base coat and ruin your paint job. Most acrylics are water soluble while enamels are solvent based. Put your base color of whatever medium (acrylic or enamel),let that dry for a few days and then do your wash. DO NOT use straight black for a wash. Use a color close to Raw Umber or Burnt Umber but stay away from black. I prefer to use acrylic for base coats and washes of artists oils thinned with Turpenoid. Hope this helps K.

I paint with tamiya acrylics and wash with oils, the reason being i never had success with enamel or acrylic washes.

when my paint is dry, i apply a coat of future to my tank, apply decals, seal with another coat of future, then apply washes using winsor and newton oils diluted with miniral spirits.

if your are painting enamel, apply same proces.

The reason being Future, or Klear(same product, different name, depends on your location) is acrylic base and will not react to mineral spirits and oils, and will allow your washes to flow better. Howere i DO NOT recommend using enamels for washes because i have seen the thinner destroy the coat of future... And no acrylic wash because that will also destroy future. Stick to oils for safety... They can also be used for filters, light dirt (vietnam style), and streaks of rust.

They also last very long.

Frank

Thanks everybody. Cheers Mike. Help much apreciated!
Thanks for the link John, I remember seeing it ages ago, but I just could not remember where I'd seen it. Its very useful, thanks.

Lets go try it - fingers crossed!
Harry

This sounds interesting. Why?

As already mentioned in this thread:

The reason behind doing a wash of acrylic over enamels or vice-versa is that the wash wont lift off the base coat. If you use an acrylic wash on acrylic paint or enamel wash over enamel paint,you may lift off the base coat and ruin your paint job. Most acrylics are water soluble while enamels are solvent based.

Niko