Neutral grey for white/black wash

Neutral grey for white/black wash - a Neutral Gray Wash (AK Interactive)

The wash is a liquid enamel (solvent-based) product that picks out detail - it flows into recesses, around rivets, panels and edges and creates shadows that give a surface depth. The package is 35 ml. This shade is a neutral gray and it was created for two extreme cases: white and black surfaces.

Why a neutral gray in particular? On a white surface a classic black or brown wash looks crude - the model ends up looking dirty and used rather than subtly shaded, and dark marks are hard to remove from white paint. On a black surface the problem is the opposite: a dark wash merges with the base and nothing of it can be seen. A neutral gray is exactly in between: on white it is subtle enough not to dirty, and on black it is light enough for the detail to stand out. One bottle therefore covers both extremes - which is why modelers of science fiction, mechs and figures appreciate it as well.

Use

• Stir the bottle properly before use - the pigment settles to the bottom.
• Apply it to a cured gloss clear coat; on a flat base the wash spreads over the area and leaves stains.
• Apply it with a brush into recesses and to details, or over the whole area, and let it flow.
• Let it work and then wipe the excess away with a cloth or a brush dampened in a suitable thinner for enamels (mineral spirits) - always from top to bottom, so that natural streaks form.
• Work in layers - it is better to build the effect up gradually than to have to remove it afterwards.
• Seal the finished effect with a matte varnish.

Who it is for

For anyone building a model in white (winter camouflage, ambulance and civil vehicles, spacecraft, white aircraft) or in black and very dark paint. It serves universally as a subtle shading wash on light grays and other light shades as well. Suitable for modelers of vehicles, figures and science fiction subjects.

Safety: a solvent-based (enamel) product and a flammable liquid. Keep out of the reach of children and away from open flame. Work in a well-ventilated space, do not inhale the vapors, and protect your airways, your skin (gloves) and your eyes. Close the bottle well after use.