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Recently came across on vallejo gloss varnish on ebay, and I recall lots of people telling me something different everytime I asked somebody... So in the end, I never atually figured out what it does?
Is it for protective purposes or scenic purporses, or sticker purposes?

Is it worth getting vallejo GV?

Cheers

its for protective purposes basically... but you can also limit the use of gloss to powerweapons, gems and eyes and use matte varnish for the armor...

wont make it light up in the dark

I imagine it would make your marines quite glossy.

One good reason to use any type of varnish is that is seals the paintjob so it doesnt wear off.

I use gloss varnish primarily to make things glossy, such as gems, lenses etc.

While to protect my paintjob I use a matt varnish which not only protects the paintjob but gives the whole model a nice even finish.

Mostly, varnish is just intended to protect the paint. Gloss varnish has the added benefit of making the finish shiny... which is obviously only a benefit if you actually want your minis to be shiny. Otherwise, if you really feel the need to varnish, go for something matte or flat.

Having said that, unless you are after that varnish-looking finish, if you're using a spray undercoat, and decent quality paint, varnish really isn't necessary unless you're really rough on your models.

It is protective, but it is also super shiny. It depends on the look you are going for. Another use for it is to provide a surface for putting a wash over. The wash will get into the cracks much easier. Once you apply a matte varnish over everything you will kill the shine.

Hmmm, is it a must for gaming cause I only use mine for display purposes.

Unless the matt varnish itself makes them like they're not out of factory style?

Could buy a bottle of gloss varnish and apply on eyes and weapons like you folks say, would be nice to see the effect afterwards.

Cool, so mostly its for gaming not to chip the paint. Gottcha. Does anyone know trusted gloss varnish brand? I heard stories of gloss messing up the whole model

usually gloss doesnt mess up the model, but matte sometimes "frosts"

if your gonna use it out of a bottle i suggest vallejo... its good quality, but even clean nail polish can work if you have it handy

The other benefit gloss varnish gives you is that is provides hard smooth surface to put transfers onto. This can help them blend into the model, rather than looking like transfers. Buit mostly its the quality of the protection.

Haha, the nail polish xD I gotta try that, my gf has tons of those *snatch*

Anything I need to keep an eye in those not to actually melt the plastic?

I have abrasive fingers which is a nightmare so i tend to gloss varnish and then matte down again with a spray afterwards. Unfortunately it does affect the paint job which is why none of the studio miniatures are varnished at all.....

DiabolicAl wrote:I have abrasive fingers which is a nightmare so i tend to gloss varnish and then matte down again with a spray afterwards. Unfortunately it does affect the paint job which is why none of the studio miniatures are varnished at all.....

Haha, I can relate to that -mostly from glue job, sweet jesus...

What do you mean it affect the paint job? The gloss or matte? matte should make the model look more realistic, or so I have been told?

yeah it does... be sure to varnish it when its still unattached to the base... you dont wanna add matte spray to grass or something!

and for the nailpolish, i used my GFs at random... just grab a bit of sprue and apply it to see if it doesnt melt it, but then again, if you can put it on your nails, it better not be corrosive

Tyris1013 wrote:

DiabolicAl wrote:I have abrasive fingers which is a nightmare so i tend to gloss varnish and then matte down again with a spray afterwards. Unfortunately it does affect the paint job which is why none of the studio miniatures are varnished at all.....

Haha, I can relate to that -mostly from glue job, sweet jesus...

What do you mean it affect the paint job? The gloss or matte? matte should make the model look more realistic, or so I have been told?

I find it has the effect of dulling down the highlights and changing the tone of some colours. I have a dark painting style anyway so the varnish can really kill some of the tonal qualities...

Whether it's worth it or not depends on what you want to do. A small bottle of brush-on gloss is useful if you want to apply a shine to specific parts of a model, like lenses, gems, wet parts, etc, as well as to control pin washes and give a smooth base for applying transfers, as has been mentioned. I use Vallejo gloss primarily for decorative purposes and it works perfectly in that capacity. If you don't feel the need to do any of those things (since display models don't need the protective quality, that part is a non-issue), then you don't need the product. If you do, then Vallejo's offering is a safe buy.

So, you should use some sort of sealant on your minis. It doesn't need to be gloss, though. I use clear fingernail polish for things that I want to be glossy (like power weapons), but I put it on after the matte spray.

As for using a gloss seal, I could see it on a couple of armies. For example, space marines that have a metallic color as their prime, as it would make a model with gold armor look like he's wearing polished gold armor.

Quick questions for you guys, when exactly do you put matte spray?

Cause as I read, it tones down the color and messes with highlights? Can you do it after basecoat for example, and washes?

Tyris1013 wrote:Quick questions for you guys, when exactly do you put matte spray?

I don't, as I really don't find it to be necessary. I have minis that I've been using in games for more than 15 years now that still have no appreciable wear on the paint.


A fairly common tip that I've heard around and about though for those who do feel more comfortable with their minis being sealed is to paint on the base colours and then seal. That gives you minis that are protected, and are up to a stage where they can be gamed with while you finish off the detail work.

Ailaros wrote:So, you should use some sort of sealant on your minis. It doesn't need to be gloss, though. I use clear fingernail polish for things that I want to be glossy (like power weapons), but I put it on after the matte spray.

As for using a gloss seal, I could see it on a couple of armies. For example, space marines that have a metallic color as their prime, as it would make a model with gold armor look like he's wearing polished gold armor.

not really... more like if you wanna make fresh Nids that are still slimy

I just give the model a matt spray after Iv completed the paintjob on it. Doesnt make a huge difference to highlights and such unless you overspray.

In addition to using a gloss surface for transfers, I also use it before I do any weathering or use any washes/oils. The wash flows better on a gloss surface and you can wipe it off afterwards without damaging the paint applied previously to the gloss varnish.

DijnsK wrote:yeah it does... be sure to varnish it when its still unattached to the base... you dont wanna add matte spray to grass or something!

and for the nailpolish, i used my GFs at random... just grab a bit of sprue and apply it to see if it doesnt melt it, but then again, if you can put it on your nails, it better not be corrosive

Nailvarnish is fine on plastic. If it wasn't it would melt extentions and nail repair strips (some extentions are plastic and repair strips are stuck on with a kind of superglue.)

However, don't go steeling you partners nailvarnish. Buy your own. Its ok if you get paint in a cheap bottle of "drugstore" polish but lord help you if you screw up a £20 bottle of OPI basecoat or imported limited edition China Glaze... Ye, my wife likes her nailpolish... You think playing with toys was expensive...