The Chalk Wash

I dont know how most of you out there do panel lines, but the easiest method that I personally use is the chalk wash. This wash doesnt damage any paint, even if its acrylic, enamel, or lacquer. You can clean up with water and its extremely versatile.

What you do is simply take the appropriate color chalk pastel. Chalk pastels are the hard type, not the oily ones.

Scrape the pastel with a knife and collect the powder in a container of sorts. Not a lot is needed, maybe a circle of chalk powder large enough to cover a Canadian toonie or a American half-dollar.

Add a little bit of water to the powder, along with a drop of dish soap. Soap allows the chalk to dissolve into the water easily. Just add enough water to make the mix about as viscous as Tamiya acrylic.

Mix it up throughly with an old paintbrush and then simply dab it into panel lines or run it along the lines if you wish. The wash will fill the lines easily. Let dry and reapply until it is dark enough. Simply dampen a paper towel or Q-Tip to rub off the excess and your done! No messy paint reaction problems or dulling the surface with thinner! Just use water, and add soap if the stains persist.

Sorry no pics, but the idea is so simple that you really cant mess up with or without an illustration!

Couldn't you just do the same but use a water colour paint? Much more simple me thinks. :smokin:

i use the chalk method on military models it works greats

hmmmm ill have to try it

I do calk wash on Gundams and tanks but not auto...don't really stick after dry. Maybe the surface are too smooth... :rolleyes: But when it come to rough surface, man...that is great.