I tend to use Windsor and Newton 'Peat Brown' ink as my final 'cure-all' wash. It's incredibly thin and can be built up in several layers if a darker finish is required. I think it's supposed to be a drawing ink.

I paint it on rather than dip the figures. Then I usually go back and do a final highlight over the top

I've heard speculation that this product is merely repackaged minwax polyshades stain, which is also known as the dip, and available at most home centers. Typically I use a future magic wash for my figures, though I tried polyshades tudor (nearly black) satin on some of the toy plastic army guys and it works quite well. It does require a couple of days to fully dry, and you have to be vigilant about the stain pooling on the figure. I'd recommend color blocking the figure in lighter color than desired, brushing it on the figure over the can (use a cheap disposable brush), and checking the figure every 15 minutes or so for pooling (again using a disposable brush). A final coating of dllcoat or matte spray will flatten the satin finish. I'm planning to use a walnut or mahogany for some skeletons and alien figures. Here's a couple of links to dip info:

General info
http://www.miniaturewargaming.com/index ... racle_Dip/

Dipping some tyranids
http://www.drunkdwarves.com/pages/artttgttcdipping.html

Wow...the gallery on that FAP page is impressive. Very VERY good results.

I've used Wonder Wash for several years, which is pre-mixed and comes in various colors.

Not being a painter myself .... anyone know how it does on prepainted plastic minis?

Following this with interest, I think that acrylic dips shouldnt damage prepainted plastic. You might try a small sample first, to be safe, but I see on an Army Men yahoo group that this sort of thing is used on the soft plastic Airfix and other brands of soft plastic figures, first as a base coat for paint to adhere to and then as an overcoat, to keep the soft plastic from flexing and cracking the paint. If it works for the softer plastics, it should do well for others. That said, I think I may give it a try on my Heroscape figures, the last few packs of which were not as well painted as the earlier sets, and are on a softer plastic in some cases.

I've been a dry-brusher for years, and this sort of thing looks like it will be great for the next batch of minis I will be doing, a freinds GW dwarf thunderers, painted as British Napoleonic line infantry and rifles. If it works for them, the historicals British line troops will be next. May save a lot of time.