Vallejo Model Wash Drying Milky

[Firedrake Cordova]

Hi all,

I’ve recently acquired a couple of bottles of Vallejo Game Wash (not Model Wash - the ones in 17ml dropper bottles with black tops), and am having a little bit of a problem getting good results out of them – I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them?

Out of the bottle, they’re very thick and require watering down, however, when I’ve watered them down, parts dried a light “milky” colour (i.e. nearly white, despite being over a base of Nauseating Blue). I’ve tried the following thinning methods, with the same results:

• 1:1 mix with Vallejo Thinner Medium (acrylic resin)
• 1:1 mix with a 1:10 solution of Winsor & Newton Artists’ Acrylic Flow Improver and water.
• Equal parts mix of both of the above (1:1:1)
• 1:1 mix with water
• 1:1 mix with Winsor & Newton Artists’ Acrylic Flow Improver (because I can’t read instructions, apparently…)

This has happened with the blue wash, and a blue & red wash mix, but not the black nor umber wash (so far). I’m making sure I’m giving the bottle a good shake, mixing the thinning agent in well, and removing any pooling from the model. The wash on my pallet dries normally and doesn’t do this.

Any ideas before I give up and go back to Coat D’Arms inks & GW “shades”..? Using the water and flow improver mix gives a really nice result with Agrax Earthshade …

Thanks

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

It's an inherent problem with Vallejo washes. It will happen with other brands too, but is far more common with Vallejo. The main culprit is that the wash ingredients settle and separate. You can prevent it by not putting it on as thick. I know you said you fixed any pooling, but chances are you still put a decent amount of wash in the cracks. Like, did you only use one layer of wash to make dark shadows?

 

Try not only shaking it well, thinning it 50/50 or more, but also doing multiple thin layers of wash, just like you would with a normal paint. This should prevent drying white, but it's also very time consuming. If you want the lazy man's one layer method where you slop it in the cracks and let it dry, you will need a brand that doesn't dry white as often or go back to inks. What I usually do if it dries white is just keep adding wash to the crack until it covers the white. Citadel and Army Painter both have this problem too.

[Firedrake Cordova]

It's an inherent problem with Vallejo washes. It will happen with other brands too, but is far more common with Vallejo. The main culprit is that the wash ingredients settle and separate...What I usually do if it dries white is just keep adding wash to the crack until it covers the white. Citadel and Army Painter both have this problem too.

Bah! Cheers for the info

I know you said you fixed any pooling, but chances are you still put a decent amount of wash in the cracks. Like, did you only use one layer of wash to make dark shadows?

I normally aim for about 3 washes (normally a case of apply, clean & dry brush, mop any mistakes, clean & dry brush, mop most out of the recesses). As far as I could see, there was very little in the cracks - it was just about visible as a slightly "wet sheen" on the model.

[Strength 10]

I had the same problem with GW washes myself when I tried to use them watered down on some vehicles, they dried all white/pale.

 

The solution I found in this instance was simply to use a tiny detail brush to apply it and carefully put a small amount of wash on at a time rather than trying to thin the wash itself. Took a lot longer but it worked for me. Maybe try it on a small non prominent section and see how it goes? Good luck!