"newbie Magic Wash question" Topic

I'm on the verge of completing my first batch of 15mm ACWs (Union Infantry). This is my FIRST time painting miniatures, and I've had a lot of fun doing it (despite the headaches and endless jokes from my wife :)

In any case, I've been reading about the Magic Wash technique and I'm debating if it would be worth doing. I've taken quite a bit of time with these guys, so I'm a bit afraid of messing them up. They've got quite a bit of detail as it is- will this make them look better?

I just finished my first ACW 15mm as well--BH's Iron Brigade. I did some shading and highlighting, but have decided to pass on a magic wash. I was thinking of doing this to the flesh, but fear it might run onto the uniforms. That being said, this week I magic washed some 15mm American WWII infantry using Raw Umber (a dark olive green). It helped those figures. But I like my IB guys the way they are.

BTW it took me 23 hours to paint the 20 IB figures. Still not based, though.

yeah, I'm leaning towards not using Magic Wash- I used a few inks to add some shading. I don't think it's too bad for a first attempt. I went really really slow- I think I've been working on these guys spread out over the last 3 months (about 50 figures). I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so that certainly doesn't help matters :)

Magic Wash only works on unshaded and highlighted figures, it's purpose is to give you that shading effect, so if you've already provided shading then no, it's not worth it.

DeWolfe is right. If you want to find out if Magic Wash is for you, paint up a few sample figures and only apply base coats. Don't shade or highlight anything. Then apply the Magic Wash and compare it to your hand shaded and highlighted figures. Decide which technique works best for you!

I used to play with a guy who would hand shade and highlight the first rank of a unit and then magic wash the figures that would be standing behind them. You might consider that, too.

For my part (and for what I'm painting), magic wash alone is good enough.

"Magic Wash only works on unshaded and highlighted figures…"

A shaded and highlighted paint job can still benefit from a Future wash to enhance the shading and further accent the delineation of sculpted detail. With 15mm, I generally use a dark primer, leaving it in the deepest shadows, cover with a base color, and highlight once. Then the wash evens things out and adds a layer of shadow.

There are no hard and fast rules. If a tool can be used more than one way, use it!

Allen

I recently tried the wood varnish/poly method and it's debacle has forever been burned into my psyche. The only washes I will continue to use are in the traditional sense. I do use Future for thinning, but not ready to go down the route of "Magic Washes" again.

Documented at:
iowagrognard.blogspot.com