Model Forum / General / Models / June 2007

on 6/14/2007 2:48 PM Tony Gartshore said the following:

My wife uses it in her oil painting. It is a synthetic product that
doesn't have the strong odor of turpentine. If there is a UK equivalent
, you will more likely find it in artist's supply stores.

Try searching under these terms :

a. Artist Turpentine
b. Gum Turpentine or Gum Turps

An art supplier will definitely have it because this is what artists
use to thin out their paints.

Also ,

If you live in the U.K why don't you just buy" Humbrol Thinner" and a
"Thinner Jar" ? Its gentler on the paintwork than Turpenol analogues
and will do the same job as a wash .

The best thing to use, is plain old, inexpensive
mineral spirits.  I believe it is referred to as
"white spirit(s)" in the U.K.  Turpentine (or actually
"turpen-anything") is actually a bit too strong
for the purposes model builders need.  The "spirits"
work fine.  And even the cheap stuff is perfect
(The type you buy at places like Walmart, labeled
"Paint Thinner" and selling for $1.99/gallon-jug.)

You can use an oil wash over any other medium - just
make sure your color coats are dry and cured - and
use caution and care.  It actually works *better*
over acrylic paints.  It won;t attack the acrylics
(again, make sure they are fully cured), and if you
mess up, it can be cleaned off without fear of
eating into the color coats.