Washes are a fundamental part in armour and figure modelling as they allow you to accentuate recesses and shadows. Essentially a wash is a very thinned paint which is bruhsed over the model and allowed to settle into any recesses eg panel lines etc and when dried leaves just the paint in these places.
To start, find a complementary colour to the base colour you have painted your kit in. For example use a burnt sienna for sand or for panzer gray- black. Essentially a much darker shade of the colour you are using.
Now thin the paint to the consistency of water (even thinner if possible!). I find the best mixing pots for doing this are the tops from drink bottles (eg Coke, Lemonade etc).
Get some of the thinned paint on your brush and brush over the model. It will flow into all the grooves and recesses of the kit.
Although it looks heavy and wet, this will soon dry and leave behind just the colour. If needs be repeat the process until you are happy with the look. Artistic licence is all the norm for modellers. That's why I love it!
You may notice that your base colour has darkened, but I will explain later how with drybrushing, you can make the colour brighter to look faded and worn.
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