How do you "wash" your props?

When you're weathering a prop you've made/bought, what technique do you use to black/brown/green wash?

I'm pretty new to it, but this is a helmet I did yesterday... (don't judge too harshly, I've never really weathered with just paint)

I painted it gold first, then I "buffed" brown acrylic into it with a damp paper towel, then I used a dry paper towel to give it streaks and scuffs with more browns and black, then went back and did a little highlighting with the gold spray paint (krylon) using a piece of steel wool as my "brush".

I think I went a bit too crazy. You can judge me.

that helmet does look like its been through a war lol. im not too great at this painting lark either.IMO you've got a bit too much brown and black on there. helmet does look great tho, may i ask where u got it? i've been contemplating starting the pep file as funds low

ReproMan said:

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that helmet does look like its been through a war lol. im not too great at this painting lark either.IMO you've got a bit too much brown and black on there. helmet does look great tho, may i ask where u got it? i've been contemplating starting the pep file as funds low

I have a mold for it.

Less paint, more water.

First coat you can brush on with a paint brush. Let the wet paint flow into joints and dips. Now soak a rag in water and use the wet rag to dab off excess.

Next you can "model" the paint. Soak that rag in water and minimum paint. Then dab it around edges and joints to model the amount of color you want to come off the rag.

Always remember to go light first. It's always easier to build up to a darker look, then to go backwards.

I'm a bit of a paint noob too, but what I did yo weather my dragon priest was to dilute some black acrylic then sloped it on, I let it sink into recessed areas and then furiously scrubbed it with my paint rag wherever I could fit my fingers into, this left a sorta darker streaks and patches while highlighting the detail with the black. This have it a realistic weathered look because it would leave 'dirt' where it would be of someone got the mall dirty and gave it a quick wipe. I then repeat it with a slightly lighter black.

I find for weathering the best thing to do is to mix and match techniques for a more believe effect so I also dabbed done black on with my painting sponge to look like flecks of dirt as well as dry brush some black on, then I finished it off with dry brushing on white paint for scratches

I gotta say the paint job you gave yours makes it look crispy lol almost like Wiley coyote street one if his bombs haha but its still realistic as burns and heavy dirt, it really depends on what you are going for, through hell and back or lightly scuffed in battle or anywhere in between

I would just go over this with a little gold rub & buff and it should come out about right. Be sparing on it so that the wear can show through.