must you wash a model first before using pastels even if it’s a small area? rambo1…
I’ve found it to be a good practice. What’s going to mess up your work may be in that small area.
I never had to.
Ken
The only reason to wash a model before using pastel powders is because of finger prints. When we use weathering powders with a brush it is EXACTLY how the Police lift fingerprints from items like door knobs, windows, doors, etc etc. So if you start a weathering project you may end up with fingerprints. I ALWAYS put on latex gloves to weather a model and I do not WASH the model but I use a paper towel and spray it with windex so that it is damp then wipe down the model. Taht will take car of fingerprints that i may have left or the fingerprints from someone at the factory where it is made. I detail my engines before I weatehr them and I do wear gloves MOST of the times but sometimes I forget to. So I just give it a quick wipedown to ensure no fingerprints show up. I also lightly spray the model with a FADE MIX using an airbrush to take the plastic shine away and that also helps the weathering powders stick so much better! ALWAYS FADE THE MODEL DOWN A LITTLE BIT using acrylic white paint mixed with distilled water and an airbrush. One coat for a light fade and 4-7 coats for a highly faded model. ALSO, you may add a drop or two of the engine/rollingstocks color to the fade mix to get a better fade. For example if the engine is red you just add a drop or two or red paint in the fade mix and it will look pink. So when you fade the model down it will be faded with a tint of red and looks MUCH MORE REALISTIC. Rather than looking like a white ghost fading. Good luck!
I don’t always, but the main reason for washing a model is to remove any oils or release agents that may be left on them from the manufacturing process. Also, there may be some oil from your hands that may have gotten on the model and these residues COULD prevent paints or chalks from sticking properly. If the model is painted from the factory as in RTR there probably would be less of a chance of that happening…
-Bob
True about release residue and/ or fingerprints. I would also like to note that most new pieces the paint is far too “slick” to have the weathering powders work to their best. A coat of flat finish will allow the best control and hold.