What is black washing

[dragster_dub]

What is black washing and how does it work

[CAL]

really thin black inks or paint. The idea is the darker color will flow into the corners of a part creating the illusion of shadows.

[dragster_dub]

How difficult is it to do? I wouldnt call myself an expert

[CAL]

How difficult is it to do? I wouldnt call myself an expert

not difficult at all, I would experiment on something to get it thin enought to create the disired effect.

I personally like to use inks for washes.

[mikemodeler]

Allan,

Find some old chrome pieces to experiment on, that is what is typically done to a grille to give it some depth. It can also be used to give parts a weathered look, like on an engine or wheels for example.

You can buy a product from The Detailer to do a wash on or use some thinned black paint or ink to do it yourself. The key is to practice on scrap pieces first to master the skill and the consistency of the wash.

Look around here and keep asking questions, a very helpful bunch is here.

Welcome to the forum!

[dragster_dub]

Thanks guys I was just sitting here looking threw some model car mag buildups and seen blackwashing was a trend I might try my hand at it

[MikeMc]

Hey dub!

I use Tamiya acrylics for washing. Flat Black is the most common I thin in a 1 drop Paint to 10 drops thinner (rubbing alcohol works) ratio. flow it on, sometimes using as many as 10 applications to get it to fill fully and be black enough. After dry I lightly burnish the high spots with a bit of balsa wood. Heres a few of them.... Note..not just grills, but dashboards and motors also!!

Edited February 15, 2011 by Stasch

[dragster_dub]

Sweet I really like those grills I will tinker with it with some scapes

[southpier]

http://www.migproductionsforums.com/phpBB3/index.php

the military guys punish themselves with this stuff

[samdiego]

The Detailer line may be the safest to experiment with. The stuff is water soluble and easy to remove. It's also thin enough to follow a line. I sometimes pre-wet the piece to improve the capillary action in the corners or seams. With the acrylics, you usually need to use alcohol for removal. That's easy on chrome but hard to do if you're using it to enhance the shut line of a door. I use it to help the shadows add depth more often than making things appear used or dirty. One other tip thing that I discovered is the Gundamarker paint markers with a .05 tip. They are great for things like defining the engine/ trans seam and disguising the awkward paint line between the two that I always end up with. They don't bleed under a clear coat like a Sharpie will.

I hate to say this out loud, but if you check out some of the sites or mags that cater to the airplane and military crowd, there is a world of techniques for weathering that I had completely overlooked until a few years ago.

easiest to see on the left. a little wash into the ribs of the can to add depth in HO scale

hard to see but there is a Gundamarker outline around the toolbox latches, just enough to make them look like separate pieces. And it's great to hide an uneven paint line.

Edited February 15, 2011 by samdiego

[samdiego]

This is Detailer in the shut lines of the door.

Sometimes it looks a little too contrasty, but non-modelers always ask if my doors open.

It does come in other colors that are mixable