Review: Using Vallejo washes to add more colour as we roll out the barrels…

We got these new Vallejo washes in the post and we thought that not many people know of them let alone used them in battle on their workbench yet – what better way to see what they are like than to use them on some unsuspecting bits of plastic??

Vallejo Washes

Six different colours (12 available)

35ml/ (1.18fl.oz.) Bottles

Available from: Vallejo’s distributors.

The more sophisticated modelling seems to get the more devices and materials come onto the market to make these new effects possible. Pastels, shades, textures and washes are now part of most modeller’s toolboxes – we are always on the lookout for a way to make our finished products come to fruition easier – so when a large company like Vallejo releases new products they are usually worth a look.

We are looking at their washes today – we have six of their twelve colours to try - and we thought what better way than to test them out on a neutral subject... But first a little about their makeup.

These washes come in a medium size 35ml/ (1.18fl.oz.) Bottle, they are water based and so thin with water. The wash itself is made with an acrylic resin so that the surface tension of the wash behaves like a solvent-based material, but it has the benefits of clean-up and dilution with simple water. The wash itself dries in around 15-20 minutes depending on the temperature and humidity of where you are working with them. You can also layer washes on top of each other as well. I found that these washes performed on top of Vallejo colours – but there must be a hard clear coat down first or you could suffer some deterioration of the original coat of paint.

 

So:

Water soluble,

Fast drying time,

No harsh smells or toxins

… Let’s try them out!

So in the left of your screen you will see six unsuspecting barrels in 1/35 – painted with Vallejo Air colours Panzer grey and Panzer yellow, on your right you will see the six Vallejo washes, we applied them to the barrels we though they would be best suited too.

76.506 – Rust /Grey barrel

76.512 - Dark Green /Yellow barrel

76.513 - Brown/Grey barrel

76.514 – Dark Brown/Yellow barrel

76.515 – Light Grey/Grey barrel

76.518 – Black/Grey barrel

When applying these washes I found them to be pretty constant in their spread, I did almost think they were a little strong (the black and the rust colours especially), so that is good for the modeller as you can always thin something down when you have some simple water to hand. I needed about half of the wash I applied. The good thing is you can always put the wash back into these bottles by removing the lid.

The wash did slightly raise the Vallejo model air a little when it was wet but settled down just fine after drying. I would think that a paint with a harder surface then Vallejo paints would see no side effects whatsoever.

I thought that these colours settled in very well into the crevices of the 44 gallon barrels, and each of them added to the shading just a little. You can use these like a filter like I did, slightly flooding the surface of the model and then taking it off with a clean brush.

I have used them since this test – on a Verlinden fuel drum cart which I added the fuel drums to and added some green and rust colours to the cart…

Also on this Luftwaffe aircraft base of which I added the green wash to the wood texture, it gave the wooden planks a wet mouldy look which I liked a lot. This base was painted with Vallejo colours as well and I experienced no side effects when I put the wash on. I think the moral of the story then is to not apply too much to a paint with a similar water soluble chemical structure – keep it thin!

I liked these washes and will use them again. In fact I have a nice Panzer 38T which is just crying out for some of the light grey wash over the Panzer grey colours…

Adam Norenberg

Thanks to Vallejo for the use of their washes..