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Post by beetlewing on Apr 14, 2014 6:38:51 GMT
Might be a silly question, but I don't have much experience here... What recipes/mixes do you feel makes the best homemade (especially black) wash?
I've heard acrylic + water, diluted inks, etc...
I have a mini I scupted that I'm afraid I'll mess up, lol
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Post by sgtslag on Apr 14, 2014 13:20:15 GMT
There are home-made mixes: (any color) acrylic paint + water = (any color) wash. Then there are the two major players, from the beginning: The Dip [Minwax Polyurethane Stain: Tudor (black), and Royal Walnut (dirty brown)]; and Magic Wash (Future/Pledge Floor Polish + Acrylic Paint/Water-based Ink = permanent, high-gloss wash). The commercial version of The Dip, is Army Painter's wash/varnishes, which I believe are over-priced versions of Minwax's products.
If you want to experiment without using expensive mini's, get some plastic Army Men figures: block paint those parts which vary from the plastic's color (no need to paint more than is necessary, as you are testing the shading/washing, not your painting); after it dries for at least 30 minutes (acrylic paints take around 15 minutes, but 30 is safer), apply the wash of your choice. I would recommend paint up 3-6 figures, same pose, same painting colors and style. This will allow you to do a direct comparison of the washes, with a minimal time investment. You will clearly see what each technique is capable of doing for you.
As an alternative, get some Mage Knight figures, pre-painted, and apply the washes to them, using the same approach: use 3-6 figures, all the same painting style/colors, to see what each wash technique will do.
My personal favorites are The Dip (Tudor for black shading; Royal Walnut for those figures I want to look dirty, in the trenches and the mud), and Magic Wash for anything that needs colors other than black, and dirty looking.
Minwax products are available from DIY stores, but the Tudor tends to be available only from hardware stores. Future/Pledge Floor Polish is available from your grocer's floor cleaning products aisle Cheers!
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Post by DMScotty on Apr 14, 2014 14:16:34 GMT
You can also just water down black also and not make the "dip", but the dipping method is fast for lots of minis. Getting the watered down consistency right does take some practice. As sgtslag says, make sure to practice on other minis first. The only real bad thing that can happen is that you get it darker than you wanted. You can then just touch up the mini with color so just a loss of some time.
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Post by beetlewing on Apr 14, 2014 16:34:13 GMT
Thanks a bunch guys - that really helps!
Like I said, I made him from scratch, so I'm probably overly nervous about it, lol - but great info!
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valas
Room Planner
I'm being twisted, on the sideway down.
Posts: 459
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Post by valas on Apr 14, 2014 21:50:59 GMT
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Post by sgtslag on Apr 14, 2014 22:02:27 GMT
Be sure to brush any wash on... You can actually dunk a figure into any of them, however, this will require a lot of brushing off of the excess wash. The Future/Pledge Floor Polish can dry within one minute! Be careful how thick you put it on, and watch for pooling. Pooling is where the wash builds up to excessive levels -- remove it using the edge of a paper towel, to soak it up. If you do not get rid of pooling, it will become permanent, and that can be an issue... You have been forewarned, so you should be fore-armed against mistakes. Cheers!
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Post by adamantinedragon on Apr 14, 2014 23:20:39 GMT
I used Minwax walnut and pecan stains on about 400 ancient army miniatures and they came out pretty well, but there is some pooling at the feet and some parts like the bottom of shields, so if you use the dip, pay close attention to the mini to keep the pooling from being a problem.
I frequently use a wash that I make with future, water and sepia ink. I also use india ink for a darker wash. Usually I brush the wash on instead of dipping the mini, it just tends to waste less of the wash.
I use washes quite a bit on terrain.
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