Alternative solvent for India Ink wash

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m starting to try applying washes on some of my locos and buildings- there’s a first time for everything, isn’t there?

I was starting on a CP-Rail C-Liner (repainted Proto 1K), and noticed that I was getting a little bit of whitish blob around the edges of where I had applied the wash (mainly in the fans up-top, and along the grille in the sides). I’m mainly going for the effect of enhancing the shadows, since these are molded grilles/fans instead of separate detail pieces with more relief). It almost looks like the alcohol is acting upon the paint job to dissolve it.

The paint is Modelflex BAD-16-199 Rock Island Maroon, with a light coat of Dullkote on top (over the decals).

The wash is about half a dropper of india ink in a 16-oz bottle of 70% rubbing alcohol (I didn’t use the 90% because I’m fully-aware it can be used as paint stripper… that’s how I got these stripped in the first place). I expected that, between the lower concentration of alcohol, the relatively small amounts in the wash (vs. dunking the whole thing in…), and the time since it was painted (almost two months), I would be OK. Looks like I was wrong. The alcohol appears to be reacting either with the paint, or the Dulkote (I vaguely remember seeing comments on how applying alcohol over Dullkote can provide a certain desired weathering effect, but can’t remember what it was right now, and it’s certainly not the effect I was trying for HERE.)

So, I’m looking for an alternative thinner to use in such washes. Does plain, ordinary water (probably distilled) work? If not, what else?

I was also planning on doing another wash, based on one found in a Kalmbach book on modelling city scenery (can’t remember the title, and I’m at work right now…) for a concrete mortar wash. It used Poly-Scale Concrete (or Aged Concrete) plus alcohol. However, since I believe I also used Modelflex paint on this building, I don’t think I want to risk washing the entire surface in an alcohol-based wash.

2

The alcohol is attacking the paint. For my wash, I use 50% rubbing alcohol and black leather dye. The 50% alcohol isn’t strong enough to hurt the paint. You might try mixing your india ink with water and a couple of drops of dishwashing detergent.

3

I suspect the talc in the Dullcote has interacted with the alcohol and precipitated giving you the white appearance. An easy fix that usually works is to just respray the area with more Dullcote.

4

It’s definitely attaching the Dullcote.
That’s a weathering technique popularized by George Selios.
In his Keller video tape he demonstrates brushing on the alcohol/indian ink solution over a ‘Dullcoted’ building roof.
I’ve used that technique many times on my own railroad.
As ‘Hershchloe’ says, respraying it usually fixes the ‘problem’.

Dale Latham

5

I generally use India Ink in tap water. Works for me.

6

This weathering technique is reversed when an additional coat of Dullcoat is applied. Continue your weathering and once satisfied just give it another coat. Try it on an old piece first.
Bob K.