"Washes" Topic

GW nuln oil is so damn expensive so ive started looking around for other alternatives

Lets hear what you all use for washes. I'm primarily using washes on 10mm-20mm scale ww2

Thanks

Ink washes using "Les' recipe" (I forget the exact name). Dilute artist acrylic inks with a 50/50 Matt medium/water mix

Contrast paints also work, particularly if diluted with water, you may or may not like the way they stain the highlights

John

The old Magic Wash formula has changed since SC Johnson stopped making Future Floor Polish. However…

There is a replacement product which works virtually identical to Future: Quick Shine Floor Polish. It is essentially an acrylic medium, at a bargain basement price: 27 fluid ounces for < $7.00 USD!

Add your choice of acrylic paint (craft, or otherwise), to the Quick Shine, mix, and brush onto your figures. Tinting is done according to preference -- there is no documented ratios, you have to play with it to find what ratio you like. It dries within 5-10 minutes! It dries to a high gloss, so a matte clear coat is required.

The original Dip Technique could be used, but on such small figures, it likely would be too thick. The advantage of Minwax Polyshades Urethane Stain is that it is pre-mixed, and it can be diluted with mineral spirits, but that also dilutes the urethane coating, diminishing its protective qualities. Still, if properly diluted, it might work well enough on such small figures. You would need to experiment, though, and I have nothing more to offer on this idea as I game with 20mm+ figures only. Cheers!

I use the Les formula that jwebster mentioned. Works great and is economical as well.

YouTube link

This won't help your budget, but I now use a mixture that I saw on youtube. You mix Army Painter dark shade with GW Reikland fleshshade and lamium medium. The whole pot of each of them goes in one large bottle.

For smaller scales, I don't think all that is necessary. On the less expensive side, I have been known to use Winsor and Newton ink (brown or black) with a drop of dish soap.

"GW Reikland fleshshade" This was my go-to for a long time but sheesh…..

- the cost has tripled
- the pots are smaller
- only available in gloss now (Colour – gloss)

Recently I have been very pleased with Army Painter washes after trying them out. They work great out of the bottle, and I have even did some applications by thinning them out using water as well as their wash medium on another application. They make a range of washes in different shades and colors. I have Nuln Oil as well (old formula) which works well too. When the Nuln Oil is used up, I doubt I will buy the new formula

Two Thin Coats Oblivion Black is a very close copy.

I also like Marine Juice (from Sonic Sledgehammer):
4 parts Lahmian Medium, 3 parts Army Painter Dark Tone, and 3 parts Reikland Fleshshade. happens to be a bottle of each.

I'm using diluted paints and then a wash of Vallejo polyurethane acrylic varnish with brush mixed with some acrylic betumen of Judea.
It is very quick and effective, cheap, non-smelly and easy to clean. I also use it for panneling and blacklining. Here's an example in 28mm and in 15mm as well:

Artists Ink from Daler-Rowney or Winsor & Newton

I found in a decades old model railroad mag an idea for using an alcohol based leather dye diluted with alcohol. The only brand of alcohol based leather dye I found is – Fiebing's Leather Dye. Lots of different colors. Mixing is 0ne dye to ten alcohol. I plan to experiment on the mix.

Whatever wash is applied, it is best to apply light coats of matte clear sealant, as many types of dyes/washes can be re-activated by: water, paint solvents (when dry-brushing highlights), alcohol, etc. If you apply the matte clear coat sealant lightly, it is less prone to re-activate the wash. Multiple light coats are best. Once sealed, no re-activation issues should arise. Cheers!

Fiebing's Leather Dye – 15% off sale until the 17th. Use code LEATHERCRAFT15.

Just happened to get an email about it today.