What medium should I use for washes?

For enamel washes, use white spirit or odourless thinner. For acrylics, use water or acrylic medium. For oil washes, use odourless turpentine. Commercial wash products (like AK Interactive or Ammo) come pre-mixed.

How thin should a panel line wash be?

A panel line wash should be very thin — about 1 part paint to 8-10 parts medium. It should flow into recessed detail by capillary action when touched to a panel line with a fine brush.

How much wash do I need?

Very little. A 1:72 aircraft needs about 1-2ml of mixed wash for all panel lines. Larger scales and overall washes need more. Mix 2-3ml to start.

ModelCalcs

Wash Mix Calculator — Panel Line & Pin Wash Ratios

Calculate the paint-to-medium ratio for panel line washes, pin washes and overall washes.

Total Volume Needed

Wash Type

How We Calculate This

Washes are heavily thinned paint that flows into recessed detail. The thinner the wash, the more subtle the effect. Panel line washes use 1:8 to 1:10 paint-to-medium ratios.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.