Red Wash

Vallejo Red Wash – a red wash for bringing out detail

This is a modeling weathering preparation, not a covering paint. A wash is a thin toning liquid that flows by itself into grooves, seams and folds, while only a faint veil stays on the raised places. The model thereby gains depth and shadow without laborious hand shading. The red shade is used where a warm color shift is wanted.

Use

• Shake the bottle thoroughly before application; the pigment settles at the bottom
• Work on a smooth surface, best one gone over with gloss varnish – on a matte base the wash will bleed
• Apply it with a brush in a targeted way into grooves and seams, not over the whole area
• Draw the excess off with a clean, slightly dampened brush
• Fix the finished effect with matte or satin varnish

When to choose the red shade

A red wash suits red and brown-red surfaces, leather and fabrics on figures, brickwork in a diorama and also a base for rust effects that follow. For ordinary dirt and shadows on hardware a brown or black wash is more suitable – red has a strong color shift and used over a whole area it looks unnatural. A reminder of the difference: a wash brings out detail and flows into recesses, while a filter shifts the tone of a whole surface.

Who it is for

For builders of figures, fantasy and historical models, for diorama scenes with brick and wooden surfaces, and for modelers who want to deepen shadows quickly.

Keep out of the reach of children. Use in a well-ventilated room, avoid contact with the eyes and close the bottle carefully after use.