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I am in the process of painting my first 40K army(T'au), and now I am considering whether or not I should seal them.

What kind of seal do you use? Is sealing always worth it?

I would want to keep a matte finish if I were to seal. What are some inexpensive and technically simply seals that I could use? I have never painted miniatures before, so the easier the better at this point. Thanks!

I am attaching a couple pictures of some stuff I have done(I still need to finish the broadside's base). I am not sure how to turn the pictures, unfortunately.

Normally i airbrush lacquer varnish in satin finish.

you could always go get spray varnish but i hear its hit or miss as some times they will haze over.

Ive been using this for 2 years, basically no problems.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghiant-Water-based-Varnish-Matt-400ml/dp/B009ZESBFI

Testors Dull Coat or Testors Clear Coat depending on whether you want a shinier or duller finish to your models. I have been using this stuff for probably close to 20 years now and never had a problem. Top notch stuff that isn't crazy expensive.

I go cheap and use Krylon Matte coat, small coats in a normal temperature should work. I wont spray it if its to cold or to hot, I've sprayed it in my garage which stays between 70 and 80 degrees year round. Low humidity too, I live in AZ so not too much of a worry there.

 Maddok_Death wrote:
I go cheap and use Krylon Matte coat, small coats in a normal temperature should work. I wont spray it if its to cold or to hot, I've sprayed it in my garage which stays between 70 and 80 degrees year round. Low humidity too, I live in AZ so not too much of a worry there.

You know you can spray that in doors, right?

Yeah but the Wife will have my head, thats the one thing she cant stand is the aerosol smell.

Winsor & Newton Galleria Acrylic Satin, through an airbrush, cut with around 30% airbrush thinner.

Doesn't smell much. Doesn't fog. Doesn't get a clogged up can or waste much.

For the couple of hundred it costs to get set up with an airbrush, the saving in priming / varnishing alone makes it up pretty quickly.

If you get acheap external mix/spraygun type airbrush with a few jars (siphon feed type) you can keep your thinned varnish in the jar, and the wastage is just what's in the tube, and cleaning becomes much simpler (just flush through water / ab cleaner / water from a couple of other jars).

Generally I use a gloss for maximum durability, followed by a matte to cut the shine. Currently I'm using Vajello Gloss Varnish and Pebeo Matte, both with a brush, though either could be airbrushed - I'd rather not clean varnish out of my airbrush.

Matt coat nothing else

Testors Dull Coat. Been using two coats for years.

Cheers,

CB