woodland scenics manual question - washes

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

the manual talks about creating a diluted mix of paint and water to use as a wash to blend colors. in the manual it talks about a formula, so many parts water and so many parts paint. when it discusses this, it lists several paints for one formula, and several for a second formula.

My question is, when it lists the several paints, are all of those paints going into the wash? or is the formula for one paint at a time? if all paints, would it be one part each of the combined paints? or is the combined paint one part. just a little confused.

lastly, have you used this technique? did you like it?

2

Hard to say without having a copy myself, but usually the idea of a wash is that because it’s transparent, the colour can be built up in layers - separate washes of different colours. That way it’s easier to control. If you were to add all the colours together you’d quite likely end up with a dull mess. Sometimes that’s just what you want, of course. Applying them separately is what I’D do, the book might be saying something different.

Mike

3

The more the water, the thinner the mix, and the more washes it takes. RULE: make them too thin, especially if they are dark.

My opinion. skip their colors, they fade to much and go straight to cheap tubes of artist acrylics.

Put the colors on first. Then use washes of black to get shadows in the cracks. The dry brush white to get sun highlights. There is no formula, just practice. If you don’t like a result, paint right over it.

4

art, that is what I was doing before I read about washes, just dabbing little spots of colors, different colors, and then swiping the brush and wiping them across the surface. at times, they would interact and blend… so I guess at this point I would wash with a different color as you said, darker for shadows, or lighter if im washing over dark.

5

There are several methods of washes or should I say applications.This method works for me and Im not implying its the only way, but I personaly love it.

I only use six colors, raw sienna, yellow oxide, burnt sienna and the3 darker colors, a hooker green, paynes grey and burnt umber. All tubes are acrylic paste concentrates from Walmart or art stores.

I use a wet 1 in brush with a very little amount of paint, perhaps tad of paint on three or five brissles of the very wet brush. Were not painting here, were washing. Water in a small bowl and a tad of paint on the rim, a hair drayer in one hand, brush in the other and this is a very quick process.

I use a hair dryer between coats as we dont want the coats blended togather, we want extreamely transparent colors to shine through each other in layers,(This is the Key, Many Thin Washes to highlight each other.)

The above are washes over a flat latex earth tone ( very very boring earth color) , note the different colors , a tad of hunter green in grassy areas, panes grey in granit rocky area and perhaps more yellow and browns in earthey areas. Thiss took about five minit to do. There is very little grass applied and the hunter green really makes it look naturaly blended.

I wanted a light color above to highlight another layout area, I used all colors repeatedy untill I got the tone I wanted. This wash was over a white gesso paint ( the same paint a artist prepares a canvas) and really looks like rock up close and personal. This method reall makes the colors look fantastic.

I will be back, need another pic

This area is also over gesso but the point I want to make is this. To get a more granit effect, (Greyer rocks) use the ligh

6

those pictures sure are awesome! thats about what I want it to look like!! ill try it! Thank you sir