Hi all

I've just started my 1/24 Spitfire Mk Vb and wanted to find a way of creating a wash effect without oil paint (basically because I havent got any!) All I did was brush some pastel dust onto the parts (undercarriage leg and hub), brush over it with Klear, wipe off the excess and voila! The pastel is nicely sealed in and it is literally a 30 second job.



I'm really pleased with the finished job and I'll definitely use this technique again.

Harri

Hi Harri.
Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
Thats a great little tip and I'll give it a try myself.
Nige

Thanks. I´ll try it. It looks good.

The one thing to make sure is that you wipe it off pretty quickly before the Klear dries otherwise you get a bit of a smeary mess!

Harri

Yes, this is a quick and easy technique. I do not know what Klear is, but I use this technique by mixing chalk (or pastel) with isopropyl alcohol and applying it with thin brush as a wash. You can make manipulations even after it is dry, because the pastel does not dissolve, it just muves with the liquid and it settles where it goes. After drying you can smear with pieces of cotton and even clean with Blu-Tack or Tack-It where you don't want it to be.

Regards.
Cagin

Harri -

Is the wash applied to the tire? I've always tried for a realistic tire but it's difficult to do. If the grey area of the tire is the wash you applied, I think you've done it! Looks terrific!

Neat idea Harri and a nice looking effect. I have experimented with making a wash with acrylic paint and Klear (Future in the US) with vearying results.


Steve, No the tyres on the Airfix 1/24 Spitfire are rubber and I believe the weathering on them hase been done more or less like the real thing, I'll let Harri explain
Mal

Steve, I have to admit I've never been a fan of rubber tyres (how to make them look realistic) and afetr thinking for it a while I decided the best way to make them look like a rel tyre was to treat them like a real tyre. So, after rubbing off the mold line I took them outside, found a piece of concrete in the garden that had a liberal sprinkling of very dry soil on it and proceeded to rub the tread of the tyre with quite a bit of pressure onto the concrete. I also gave the rest of the tyre a rub over with the dust to take the shine off it. And there it is.

Harri