Engine washes?

What do you guys use for engine washes to tone down the paint? I've been using oil-based washes but was curious what other may use.

Revell black, MM black, Tamiya smoke, Gunze oil stain or any other combo of enemals depending on shade I want to use.

For engine washes this is my preferred method: Mr. MPWR (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=441493) :).

Very easy and realistic results IMO

I use plain old watercolors from one of those $1 sets.
you can see it best around the nissan logo on the top of this engine.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/73480DSCN0974002-med.JPG
I also used some of the same washes on the exhaust system.
http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/73480DSCN0978006-med.JPG
More pictures of this still unfinshed model in 'The lost Z' link in my sig.

Tamiya flat black with plenty of thinner.

Tamiya flat black with plenty of thinner.

But doesn't the thinner eat the paint underneath? I paint with Tamiya acrylics and have found that the 91% alcohol, even if it doesn't have long to sit there, will wipe the paint underneath. I also tried enamels with windex and got the same result. I haven't tried the MPWR method yet; seems like that might be the best bet.

But doesn't the thinner eat the paint underneath? I paint with Tamiya acrylics and have found that the 91% alcohol, even if it doesn't have long to sit there, will wipe the paint underneath. I also tried enamels with windex and got the same result. I haven't tried the MPWR method yet; seems like that might be the best bet.

Not noticeably. Especially since you're trying to give it a sort of "dirty" effect. And you're really not brushing it on/into the paint, you're just sort of letting it flow a little around the edges and corners. It doesn't really have a chance to eat away at it.

Not noticeably. Especially since you're trying to give it a sort of "dirty" effect. And you're really not brushing it on/into the paint, you're just sort of letting it flow a little around the edges and corners. It doesn't really have a chance to eat away at it.

I guess I'll have to practice my technique then. My last wash resulted in the entire transmission being stripped of it's paint. :frown:

Artisits' oil - Winton makes them - Ivory Black and Burnt Umber - Thinned with Turpenoid. If that is MPWR's, then I praise it!

But doesn't the thinner eat the paint underneath? I paint with Tamiya acrylics and have found that the 91% alcohol, even if it doesn't have long to sit there, will wipe the paint underneath. I also tried enamels with windex and got the same result. I haven't tried the MPWR method yet; seems like that might be the best bet.

If undercoat is acrylic use enamel wash thinned with oil thiner (or MM or Revell hobby thiner). You shouldn't use same thing for undercoat and wash. Windex is alcohol based if I am not wrong and therefore not a good solution for thinning enamels.

But doesn't the thinner eat the paint underneath? I paint with Tamiya acrylics and have found that the 91% alcohol, even if it doesn't have long to sit there, will wipe the paint underneath. I also tried enamels with windex and got the same result. I haven't tried the MPWR method yet; seems like that might be the best bet.
Windex will eat through the acrylics.
Try enamel with enamel thinner.

Windex will eat through the acrylics.
Which is why it is such a good and cheap airbrush cleaner :D

black enamel paint with some lighter fluid works (enamel thinner also works) works.