Chin stubble?

[axabrax]

I'm just starting to paint some Bolt Action plastic US Marines, and I'm trying to figure out how to give them a 5 o'clock shadow. I tried just using a wash and thought it was too subtle and looked more like dirt. Maybe I'm not using the right wash or maybe I should thin it.

Then I tried actually painting the bottom area of the chin gray and it just made them look old. 

Anyone have any ideas? I was thinking maybe a gray glaze would work as kind of in between the two?

Thanks

Ax

[Orctrader]

This is just medium shade grey paint, watered down - more water than paint, added in successive washes until I was happy.

Less is more, always let the wash dry completely before applying another layer.

[Gary Peach]

Use a slightly thinned Citadel Blue wash/ink...  test it first, its the best I have found.

[axabrax]

I think the glaze route is really more what I'm after. I found an interesting tutorial here that's a little more complex than I'd expect but produces the kind of effect I'm looking for:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/558177.page

It's basically a black, gray, and flesh mix glaze then "blended" with the highlight flesh color. Not quick or easy, unfortunately, but very good-looking.

[Vermis]

Black, grey, brown and flesh? Hmm. I'd guess you could reduce that to a slightly darker grey and (maybe a slightly darker) flesh.

Personally I think you're along the right lines with the glaze idea, i.e. a thin see-through layer darkening and dulling the skin colour underneath. I'd start with a flesh and grey mix, easy on the grey. Even easier for a more opaque layer. Err on the side of subtlety.
And retouch the lips. The head in that dakka example looks a bit funny with them as 'stubbly' as the rest of the chin.

[Atheling]

Mix a bit of a grey into your normal flesh mix and paint on the chin as you would normally being careful to blend in the colours with the normal flesh around the edges..... simples  

Darrell.