Hi all.

After about 13 years of wargaming and painting in trying to expand my horizons and, naturaly, i turned to plastic scale modeling.
After browsing around the painting forum to acquire some general know-how on the mater of sclale modeling painting i´v gotten more confused than before.
My first thought was that wargaming and the painting that comes whit it would be quite similar to scale modeling but , dang, was i wrong.
After getting my hands on a few SKIF kits and putting them together ( great fun:)!!) and painting them in a basic dark green tone whit a few model master colours, so whats left is to "weather them".

This is where i need desperate help/ tips/ and some of your experience.
Well, for starters, this is what i need enlightenment on:
1: What is this "washes" everyone talks about?
How do i "wash" my models, and most important, what materials do i use ( any sudjestions)?
2. Are there any other weathering techniques i can use?
3. Do i need to use thinner on all my paints?
( noticed that my model master colours are a bit thick compared to my wargaming Games-Workshop colours)

This might be very fundamental and basic knowledge for all of you so, please , dont laugh at the newbie

Any help would be GREATLY appriciated.

Thanks in advance/

Cheers: Chris

Hi Christian, no one laughs at a newbie here mate we all had to learn once.for a quick bit of info if you try the paint forum there are plenty of posts and features on weathering,also try the features section Im sure theres some there to.also try Missing-Lynx.com its a free site , then click on features then Rarities world, there you will find some articles by Mig who is a master modeller and these tips are really helpful.Re the thinning of Paint I would say,yes,thin them are you hand painting or using a airbrush either way you should thin them otherwise the paint looks way out of scale and you loose detail.Hope this helps
p.s. Christian why dont you join Henks back to basics group build theres no time limit and you could pick up a few tipsalong the way you can find it in the Armor forum look at the top of the page you will see goup buids click on that and you will see the posts.

Hi Christian, 13 years of wargaming and a 'newbie'? I've only been alive for 16 years!

For a 'metally' effect graphite pencils are very good, also 'Boltgun Metal' - you should know this one, - is usefully good.

I use Tamiya Weathering Sticks (Light Earth and Snow - I am awaiting Wet Mud), and these are quite cheap (around £2.75) and very, very easy to use.

In the Painting Forum I asked about washes recently - A Simple Wash Question - it should be on the first page. This should help you out.

If not:
This is the very useful Missing-Lynx feature, it should cover most things:
http://www.missing-lynx.com/rareworld.htm

Cheers,
Harry

Thanks alot mates :D

Your replies got me in the right direction for shure.
Finaly i´ll be able to finish my models whit , hopfully, some great weathering on ´em.
And yes, i´v been into wargame painting, although mostly Games-Workshops Warhammer fantasy and Warhammer 40.k range.
General wargaming doesnt involve so many thing than simply basecoat-slap on that paint- drybrush and a tad of highlighting so all this oil, graphite, washing and pigment thingys are very new to me.
The Missing-lynx must be a modellers gold mine,,,absolutly spot on for beginners.

Yet again, cheers a million for helping me out

Many thanks /

Christian

P.S
John, im unable to locate Henks group build(s)
D.S

Hi Christian, glad the info helped.Re the group build you would need to go to the armor forum right at the very top are numerous headings on all trpes of armor subjects one of them is group builds,click on it and you will see the posts Henks is called back to basics just click on one of them and let them know you wish to join in tell them what kit your building and what problems you may have,thats what its all about us guys who are new to modelling or re starters in the hobby or just idiots like me who have problems opening the kit box :-) Hope this helps