Introduction

Without a doubt, Miguel “Mig” Jimenez is one of the most influential modellers around the World, not only due to his models, but also due to his educational activity through Modelling FAQ books and numerous DVDs and seminars. Mig is always willing to share his views and knowledge with modellers and has also founded several companies specializing in weathering and painting products for modeling, including his personal brand AMMO of Mig Jimenez. The products are not only of a very good quality but also offer innovative approaches. The subject of this small review is one such novel trick – washable paint. Supplied in a standard 17ml paint vial with a lid it is available as a separate product or inside the Soviet WW2 camouflage set from AMMO (6-jar paint set ref# A.MIG-7107).

Review

In principle there are several ways of doing a white wash on a model over the regular paint – you can airbrush/brush paint enamels and then wash it off with thinner, paint it with a brush/airbrush without making it worn, and perhaps the most frequently used technique – distressing the paint after a layer of hair spray or chipping fluid. The “Washable white camo” from AMMO (ref. A MIG-024) is somewhat closer to the very first option – enamel painting with subsequent removal of paint. But the difference is that here you will work with an odour free paint using tap water as a thinner, meaning less harm to your body. The application is also very easy and as stated on the label it is suitable for both airbrush and brush painting.

For test purposes I took a hull from old Trumpeter T-72 model and painted it with some acrylic greens. Next “Washable white” was airbrushed in varied coats on the model and set aside for 10 minutes to dry. On one of the sides I made stripes to show a different effect. Once the paint was dry I started rubbing it with a brush moistened in tap water. Peeling starts immediately and by controlling the amount and flow of water you can achieve different effects – completely washed off white paint, accumulation of paint in the corners, streaking and so on. If you would like to remove as much as possible you can just put water on top of the paint, wait until it dissolves and remove excess liquid with a piece of sponge. On one of the sides I made scratches with toothpick and then washed some paint over just to show a different approach to weathering the white wash. In total it took about 10 minutes to remove the paint as per pictures provided. Very fast and very efficient!

Another application for this paint is tactical markings painted with white paint on tanks or APCs. I brushed some numbers on the side of the model and few minutes after washed them off using tap water. Again, we get simple and fast way to make weathered/old markings. This would be suitable for worn hand painted camouflage, recognition stripes in Berlin 1945, hand painted slogans with streaking paint or recognition stripes on Ukrainian army vehicles during the current conflict.

Conclusion

To me this product is a highlight of the year (2014) and I used it on several models with very pleasing results. Of course, this AMMO product does not replace the hair spray/chipping fluid technique completely in representing the application and weathering of white camouflage as the way it was/is applied varies between conflicts and time, but it is a fantastic tool that gives white washed vehicles a different dimension. Some might say that they could reach the same with enamels, sure, why not, but more options are always better for us modellers.