How to apply a wash to a model with raised detail and raised panel lines?

[Lightsunglasses]

I have a Revell A-10 Warthog that I think was made back in the 80s. All of the details and panel lines are raised instead of recessed. I wanted to highlight some of the details but only know how to do that on recessed lines with a acrylic wash. Any advice on how I can achieve this?

[fseva]

You may not go for this, but how about using a file to just lightly hit the tops of the painted lines, which would reveal either the plastic or a primer?

[Snake45]

I wouldn't "wash" or highlight the panel lines at all. This is a technique that is starting to fall out of favor in Model Airplane World, as in most cases it WAY overemphasizes the lines and gives a very unrealistic look. Just drive on and don't give it another thought.

[Lightsunglasses]

Is it really recommended not to do a wash?

To be honest I actually have never done any sort of wash or detailing highlighting at all; so I thought this model could be my first attempt. I just want to make it look a bit more realistic than a plastic model all painted the same color.

[roadhawg]

Any attempt at accenting those raised lines will look far worse than nothing at all. Either leave them alone, or scibe them and sand the raised detail off.

[Snake45]

Is it really recommended not to do a wash?

To be honest I actually have never done any sort of wash or detailing highlighting at all; so I thought this model could be my first attempt. I just want to make it look a bit more realistic than a plastic model all painted the same color.

I have NEVER done a "wash" on any of my model airplanes in over 50 years and I think they look just fine.

[southpier]

youtube it; plenty of tutorials.

[Snake45]

If you want to "break up" the color a little in a subtle way, try "preshading" it. What you do is airbrush over all the panel lines with black (and don't worry about being too neat about it, either), and then proceed to paint as normal, perhaps thinning your paint a bit more than usual. The result, if you do it right, is a sort of semi-random patchwork effect that CAN look good. Or it can look overdone, or it can disappear completely. Worth a try, though--doesn't take much in time or money, and won't completely screw up your model even if you don't get it perfect.