Model building is all about stages of development. This is true for both the construction of a kit and for the model builder personally. For many kits, an oil wash is the final stage that pulls things all together. For model builders, learning to properly create and apply an oil wash can make a huge difference in your results and up your game.
SO WHAT IS AN OIL WASH?
An oil wash is a concoction created from combining artist's oils with mineral spirits to make a thin mixture that will be brushed over a kit to tone it down and unify the surface. It adds a realistic finish to non-glossy real world subjects like military equipment and human or animal figures. It may even be used effectively on car tires, jet exhausts, and other features that have a flat finish.
WHAT YOU NEED:
1. Oil based paint in tubes (generally dark colors are used)
2. A toothpick or craft stick
3. A clear plastic or glass container
4. Mineral spirits or similar paint thinner
5. An old, flat headed brush.
6. Spray on finish sealant
HOW TO CREATE AN OIL WASH:
1. Squeeze about 1 centimeter (approximately 1/4 inch) of oil paint onto the bottom of your container. Use a craft stick or toothpick to slice it out of the tube.
2. Pour in approximately 3 ounces (85 ml or so) of mineral spirits. This is just a baseline. In some cases you may wish to add more for a thinner wash or less for a thicker wash. Experimentation is par for the course.
3. Mix the paint until all traces of the solid paint are gone using an old brush.
4. Test the solution on scrap parts to make sure you have the consistency you want.
HOW TO APPLY AN OIL WASH
1. Thoroughly coat the entire model with a sealant before applying and allow to dry. Since oil washes are most commonly used on flat finish surfaces, you will want some kind of dull coat.
2. Brush on small amounts of the oil wash beginning with the top of the kit and moving down until the entire kit is coated.
3. Wipe away the excess gently with a clean cloth so that the crevices of the kit retain the stain of the wash the most.
4. Allow to dry and seal again with spray sealant.
TIPS:
1. It is very important to seal the kit before you apply the wash, so apply a few coats if you can just to make sure. If you don't, you can ruin the underlying paint job.
2. There are really two philosophies on wiping the oil wash away. You can either catch it while it is still very wet or you can let the oil wash settle in and then apply a little mineral spirits to your cloth and wipe away the wash from the surface. The key is to be gentle in your strokes so that you don't remove the paint below. You can, of course, use both methods on the same kit.
3. If you can get a container with a lid, do so. Oil washes will last a long time and can be used for many kits.
4. Many kits can benefit from different color washes. Oil washes can be used to create rust stains, water damage, mud residue and more . . . all on the same kit.
THAT'S IT? Yep . . . that's it. The actual process is very simple, though it may take a little practice to judge the best colors or paint to liquid ratios for a given job. However, an oilwash makes a huge positive difference in the appearance of a kit in most cases. The first time you try it, you will be amazed at the depth and tonal realism it adds.
