Mech details, washes, highlights

This week I've gotten my Battletech miniatures washed and highlighted, and they're looking pretty good!

So, for those unaware, a "wash" is when you water down a dark paint significantly until it flows into the recesses of a model, creating a shading effect and simulating depth.  It really brings out details that are molded into a model, simulating the effect of shadows.

"Highlighting" is the opposite: using a lighter shade of paint on upraised edges and lines, creating the effect of light striking the model.  This provides a contrast from the dark wash, and makes the model feel even more "real".

Marauder

This is my Marauder.  You can easily notice the wash when looking at the vectoring fins behind the top cannon, where shadows seem to be naturally cast by the upraised armor plates.  It's also visible around the major joints, where the wash pooled into the deeper bits.

The highlighting looks great on this model: the gun barrel looks realistically lighted with the lighter grey color on the edges.  While harder to see, almost any straight edge facing upward has lighter tan highlighted on it as well.  This is visible on the toes and the arms most prominently.

Rear view

 The details on the rear of the model really "pop" don't they!  This angle makes it easier to notice the tan highlights at the base of the main gun barrel, on top, as well as the edges of each vectoring fin.

Mad Dog

Here is my Mad Dog (AKA Vulture).  I'm very pleased with how this turned out!  The wash highlighted many crevices in the armor on the shoulder missile launchers as well as the side of the center torso.  I'm used highlighting on the gun barrels with light grey, and I used light tan on upraised sections like the shoulder joint, or the very center torso line.  Overall, looks great!

Mad Dog Mk IV

This is my Mad Dog (AKA Vulture) Mk IV.  This model has many broad, flat sections, but I still had room for highlighting in any upraised section I can find.  The forward gun barrels have light grey on them, as well as the edges of armor panels on the arm guns.

Side view

The side view shows some of the wash effect on the gun barrel and the armor panel lines.

Mad Cat

Probably the most famous Mech from the Battletech franchise, my Mad Cat (AkA Timberwolf) miniature came out wonderfully.  The wash brought out a ton of details in the guns, as well as the missile pods.  Highlighting also worked out wonderfully with the edges of each gun barrel, and many upraised armor panels.

Rear view

The rear view shows off the detail you can get with a good wash!  Without it, the entire top section of the torso and missile pods would look quite flat.  You can also see tan highlights on almost any corner edge here.

Front view

The gun highlights are again very clear here, and look great!  Beautiful looking Mech design, for sure.

My next step is to begin the process of weathering my models - that is, making them look damaged, muddy, or otherwise worn.  See the original Star Wars trilogy for how models really come alive when they look "weathered".  I'll post back hopefully with some successfully weathered models!