New Washes from Secret Weapons
March 25, 2011 by beerogre
Secret Weapon Miniatures has created a new selection of washes to help all you painters create those fabulous shading effects that little bit more easily... here's what they have to say...
I'm very excited to bring you fellas the new "Secret Weapon Washes."
This is the largest selection of hobby washes in the industry and each 20ml bottle runs just $2.99 -- which is almost double the quantity at $0.71 less per bottle than the big name brand I won't mention. I will mention that there are 20 colours to choose from already and 10 new recipes in the works.
The line includes soft body washes, designed to flow into recesses with minimal glazing and body coverage, and heavy body washes, designed to give full body coverage that can be used as colour filters and glazes in addition to quick recess shading.
Secret Weapon is shipping the washes now -- including an "All Your Washes" bundle that includes a 10% discount over the individual purchase price.
Do you guys use washes, or some other shading technique?
BoW Andy
Looks interesting
Is there a UK stockist
Am still learning to use GW washes and a matt medium based wash with Citadel paints.
Which seems to cover the Secret Weapon washes.
some more info
http://blog.secretweaponminiatures.com/2011/03/secret-weapon-washes.html
looks like Lester Bursley is involved, which is interesting, as his recipe (which I base mine on) was unfortunately curtailed, sorry to the vets that already know . For those that don’t Les is a little bit good at the painting malarkey.
http://awesomepaintjob.blogspot.com/2010/05/new-washes-sgt-chronus.html
Yup, these are based on Les’ recipes and launched with his full support. You’ll find his name on the bottle as well. There are 4 additional Les recipes to be launched and 6 original Secret Weapon recipes — all of which will hit at the end of the year.
No UK stockist yet I’m afraid. However direct shipping on orders under $30.00 is only $2.99!
Is there a french distributor ?
These washes have potemntial but looking at the colours there designed for display painters not gamers, personally if your doing gaming stick with GW washes or dip.
The reason I say is that the wash colours are going to be used to create a specific effect on a mini and not something every gamer has the time or inclination to do.
I’ve seen many gamers use different washes to paint their minis… Just because they want beautiful characters on the table, and something more than just a basecoat and a dip, doesn’t mean they need display quality and mad blending skills.
That’s what washes are for, actually… Speeding things up and allowing better mastery of the paint flow. Many a more skillful painter just used to use medium and/or water to dilute his colors and create his own washes, anyway.
Plus, GW washes are more expensive for the quantity (a damn ripoff IMHO, but don’t get me started on the GW painting range…), and less varied.
I want you started on GW range. Starting with the great french company they used many a year ago. The modern expenisive stuff is just horrible compared to some of the MANY other companies of paints and washes arround.
@elromanozo: you called it on the quantity. You get almost 2x the quantity at $0.71 less per bottle when compared to the GW product.
I wouldn’t say they were designed for display painters. I dip practially all my rank & file dudes, I don’t use GW washes (I think they’re rubbish). If I feel inspired to use something like that… say on a particularly nice model that I want to spend time on… I use Windsor & Newton inks. They don’t need multiple coats, if you use them neat they’ll colour in one coat, or you can thin them down if you want a more subtle shade. They also cost about £3-£5 for a big jar that lasts for years. I’m really interested in… Read more »
@BoW Andy: I’m here and I’m answering questions 🙂 No UK distributors at this point I’m afraid — but my shipping is crazy cheap: $30 or less ships for $2.99 $200 or less ships for $7.00 to the UK — and it’s cheaper in the US $200 or more is free anywhere in the world! The trick with the W&N inks, or any ink, is that even after a matte spray you’ll wind up with a gloss finish in the recesses. This is caused by the material in the inks. With the Secret Weapon washes you won’t have that problem… Read more »
Very true… That’s why I seldom use inks ! Oh, those shiny shades are a nightmare…
Inks are to be used (sparingly) for shiny surfaces.
Tauboy, I’m not sure why you’d say these aren’t designed for gamers. These colours were developed specifically with gamers in mind as more variety means you don’t have to get crazy mixing your own washes when you’re working on an army. That’s why there are so many browns and two styles of black wash — easy peasy painting for army painters 🙂
You also get more wash from Secret Weapon that you do from GW — at a lower cost. That’s a no brainer!
Have the set of GW washes
they do a job. (That may be damning with faint praise?)
Not used any other system so have no comparison to judge by.
Not sure I would get them a second time around.
Having spilt the Devlan Mud and so rapidly dwindled the stock, any suggestions to an alternative would be welcomed.
Windsor & Newtown Peat Brown Ink… £3 (or $3.50 ish) on Amazon!
I’ll add a little advert over to the side of this article for people to check it out.
Way back in the day, when people didn’t have commercially available washes or dip, this is what we used.
The original and if you know what you’re up too, still the best.
BoW Andy
Thanks Andy
Just found out the local art shop is to close 🙁
The tip and linky is really helpful
I find the ‘Mark 2’ GW washes require more washes coz they are thinner. I remember the old washes would give you the desired coverage with one coat. Got to use twice as much of the new washes now. I would be interested in this range as an alternative. Would need a UK stockist tho and would prefer to buy them as a complete set instead of individually.
@willy2fly: If you head to the Secret Weapon site you’ll find photo of the wash over a white basecoat on each individual wash page. You’ll see that the heavy body colours, such as “Baby Poop” and “Amethyst,” give you really good body coverage in one coat.
There is also a complete “All Your Washes” set that is bundled at 10% off of the individual purchase price. Shipping is only $7 to the UK too so you can pick it up for around $60 for all 20 washes!
My thanks to BoW for posting this for me — and to everyone here for the great questions and feedback. I’ll check back as often as I can to see if there’s any new chatter.
misterjustin – Secret Weapon Miniatures