Weathering Washes

[Anonymous]

What is the best way to make washes for weathering? I have just finished a section of my layout that has some concrete bridge abutments and some concrete culverts that are begging to be weathered. I need some sort of grimy black wash, but I've never actually done this before. Could you guys please suggest some quick recipes and techniques? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Use india ink in alcohol. Start off light, like 1 table spoon to a quart of rubbing alcohol. If that isn't dark enough then add more.

[Anonymous]

How could a brown weathering wash be made?

[snowey]

try windshield washer fluid and grimy black, mixed 1/5. That's 1 part windshield washer fluid and 5 parts grimy black. On rolling stock & structeres, brush it on, wait 20 seconds then wipe it off. On everything else, just brush it on like paint.

[on30francisco]

I use either a few drops of black leather dye or India ink diluted in six ounces of isopropyl alcohol. You can add some brown leather dye to this mixture to soften the weathering effects. You can also vary the amount of alcohol depending on the effects you want.

[Anonymous]

Snowy, You need to clarify what type paint to use, solvent based or water based. I don't know, but your mixture seems back wards to me, too heavy on the paint. Please clarify.

[tomwatkins]

Artist's pastel chalks disolved in windshield washer fluid also work well. Grind up the chalks on a piece of sandpaper and pour them into a small flat container containing a very small amount of the fluid. Mix and apply with a flat brush.
Hope This Helps,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

There's nothing wrong with using india ink, but I have found that using acrylic paint in rubbing alcohol works equally well. ALthough I haven't tried brown, you could easily substitute a dark brown for the black.