India Ink

[NH Mike]

I've decided to give India ink a try for some weathering on buildings. Looking to get a slightly dingy look to buildings but not overly done. Any tips on what ratio to dilute it and with what? I mixed about 6 drops in a 1 oz bottle of plain water as a test. Brushed on some scrap it still seems a bit dark and beads up on the surface. I haven't shot it through an air brush yet but I'd think it would still bead up. Would alcohol be better for thinning? I plan on applying it over Floquil, both the original formula and the new type as well as other enamel and laquer based paints.

 

[Espeefan]

Definitely thin with alcohol! The ratio will be pretty steep because it's such strong stuff. a few drops to an ounce and adjust to your preference. I've never used it on plastic, and imagine it would bead up unluss you dullcote or have some sort of profile on the surface for it to settle into. It's great to weather wood though.

 

[stationmaster]

I've never had much luck with India ink and plastic. The ink does excellent on wood as the wood absorbs it, like a stain.

Bob

 

[Larry]

Since India Ink is so expensive, do like I do, I got a quart of India Ink latex mixed at Wally World & that stuff works great on plastic. I also use it as a base coat(thinned) on new mountains. I don't have to worry about it beading up. Just a thought for you-all.

 

[NH Mike]

I dumped out the ink & water mix and made a fresh batch using alcohol as Espeefan recommended. 2 drops of ink to an ounce of alky. I brushed a test sample onto some strip wood and it was very light. Next I loaded up the air brush and began applying it over a DPM Cutting Scissors kit I recently painted. Just barely showed but that is the control I was looking for. After a few more applications and adjusting the volume and speed it came out great. No doubt over unfinished raw styrene it isn't going to be a success but since flat paints have a somewhat fine porous texture it did just fine. As soon as I get some time I'll put up a pic or two even though I still need to finish the roofs.

 

[kbkchooch]

I've never had much luck with India ink and plastic. The ink does excellent on wood as the wood absorbs it, like a stain.

Bob

boB,
I like to use it on styrene clapboard siding. When scratchbuilding a structure, I rub the siding vigorously with a wire brush, then after assembly apply a thin coat of paint. The texture is still there under the paint, and grabs the idia ink very well, leaving me with a weathered, grainy & distressed siding.

 

[nmaniac]

1 drop ink to 1/4 alcohol put on lighty and don't touch it till it it dry

 

[RexHea]

Rubbing alcohol comes in different strengths. I use 70% so it won't take any paint or decals off with the brushing or running, but will allow the ink to tack onto the plastic. With 90%, you are asking for paint runs. My dilution depends on how much effect of dirt/grime I want: from a couple of eye droppers of ink per quart of alcohol, to several droppers to a quart; that is up to you.

 

[cablehead]

what kind of a look are you going for, mike?

if you are using it for a wash, there are probably cheaper and easier methods you can use...


jeremy

 

[NH Mike]

Thanks for the reply Jeremy. Over the past 35 years I've used various washes I made from thinning the daylights out of model paints and they all worked well. India ink is something I recently decided to try based on seeing what other modelers are doing with it. It only took 3 test shots to end up with what worked for me laying down a light dusting and then repeating until I was satisfied with the results.

 

[hoggrken]

Hey gang...Place 2 teaspoons of India ink in 16 ounces of 'wet water'. This goes into a small hand pump sprayer. From Dave Frary's book, "how to build realistic model RR scenery - 3rd edition' (Kalmbach Books).


for 'wet water', use 1 teaspoon of liquid dish detergent or 'Photo Flo' to 16 ounces (1 pint) of water. This negates the surface tension which causes the surface tension (and beading problems) with straight water. Remember your high school chem classes with graduated cylinders and the dreaded 'meniscus'?

I buy all of my measuring cups, measuring spoons and hand pump sprayers from Wally World or the local dollar store...so far this has helped to keep my marriage on stable ground. Nothing like using your wife's best mixing bowl for preparing a batch of Enviro-Tex 2-part epoxy for your lakes and streams

Regards...Ken.

 

[bnsf_fan]

weathering

have u tried A.I.M. weathering powders?If u can't get the results u want from them, u aint trying

 

[RexHea]

I like to use weathering powders, with India Ink being the base. The powders will add the varying colors you need for dirt, rust, etc. Instead of using a brush for the powders and with large areas, i have found that my finger tips will blend it in better/smoother. ("H" to clean off your fingertips ) In fact, I use India Ink as a base for most weathering including coloring rock formations.