Back or black washing grille question.

Hi Frank, I am not sure what your term " a sharply " means - perhaps it is what I describe below and you find it is not working, but for both your cars above, I would do this and achieve the result I think you're looking for.  I posted it here about a month ago.......

I'm almost afraid to say this amongst such esteemed modelling company. But sometimes I find models at a certain price point have such bright chrome work that some of their moulding detail disappears - plus the shine can over-power the model. I take a small, shallow container, add a matchstick-end's dob of matte black enamel paint and douse in lighter gas, (NOT Fluid like Zippo or such). Mix vigorously to a wash and lightly apply with tiny brush to recessed parts that might act as a reservoir - holding exactly horizontally to ensure level coverage as the gas evaporates, leaving a shadow to pick-out details in the silver moulding.  Obviously, much would depend upon what parts are recessed and if shadow there, would suit the purpose. Also, a brush with Q-tip or baby bud will remove excess shadow, after drying, ( 5-mins depending on evaporation).   - - Note the grille on the Hawk  and Peugeot - -

I've never tried using a "sharpie" or any other kind of marker pen but I suspect the ink or pigment in them is too thick and "clingy".

The best method I know is to mix matt black (flat black) model enamel paint about 50:50 with paint thinner. The black paint needs to be in good condition. If it is old and thickened, add some thinner to the tin and stir well before using it for your black wash mixture. If you don't thin it enough the paint will cling unevenly to the grille. But be careful, if you thin it too much your "black wash" will turn into a "grey wash". Not very pretty.

To do a typical grille I pick up drops of paint from the tin using a cocktail stick or the wooden end of a modelling paintbrush handle and drip them one at a time into a tin lid or whatever, then do the same with the filler. About half a dozen drops of each is probably enough to do a grille.

Mix well and brush evenly in a flood coat over the whole grille. The point about thinning the paint is that it will tend to flow nice and evenly into the hollows without too much of it sticking to the raised detail, whereas unthinned paint (or ink from a marker pen) tends to cling to the raised areas as well.

You should then be able to lightly wipe any excess off the high points of the grille pattern with a cotton bud. On some models the grille pattern may not be very deeply defined, with quite shallow "hollows", and a fluffy cotton bud may remove some paint from the hollows as well. In that case use the tip of a sharply folded tissue or cloth to wipe lightly over the high points.

If your thinned mix doesn't give a satisfactory result (grille too clogged, or black wash looking a bit weak, or too much wiped off) wash the whole lot off with thinner and try again (you've only wasted half a dozen drops of paint!). Or maybe your mix was fine but you didn't use enough to fill the hollows. Go over the grill again with a more generous coat, then wipe off.

I have occasionally had a model where the grille pattern was so shallowly defined that this technique didn't work too well. In that case I resorted to giving the whole grille a coat of unthinned paint, letting it dry overnight then scraping the black paint off all the raised sections with a toothpick or a small craft blade. That's a more tedious method but can work.

Hope that suggestion helps. Other people may have their favourite methods.

I have used the sharpie method on a number of my kits with I think great results.  But I use a ultra fine point, and not a standard.

@graeme-ogg and all, terrific, thank you, ✌️

@charles-rockett thanks, sharpie is a permanent marker often used for autographs and labeling items.

I strongly urge you to try my method.  Lighter gas (fluid) is an indispensable part of my life - like sugar - and I use it for everything from removing labels from prized record sleeves, to 'shadowing' overly shiny brightwork on cars.

 Lighter gas - fluid - but NOT petrol as Zippo

ALSO, if your Thunderbird grille has been done with a spirit based marker (I imagine your Sharpie pen is) pouring the lighter fluid into it and swabbing with Q-tip will lighten a lot of the darkness.