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So I have never put a clear coat on any of my models as I thought it was a non issue initially. Anyway I want to put one on them all but I have no idea what I'm doing. Using my apothecary as an example:

How many coats do I need to apply?
How will it affect his colours?
Do I coat the base as well?
I have bushes on my bases, would I need to stick with brush on varnish?

Avoid spraying over clear plastics(flying rod, canopy, necron gauss etc.) cover over with painter/artist tape. I usually avoid spray over static grass, bush, but its not too big of a deal. The reason you spray matte varnish over models is to protect the paint getting rubbed off from handling, especially visible for metal models.
shake can for 1-2 minute, spray in a none windy area, no fans and such and above floor level. I spray from 3 angles in quick spurts(0.5 sec), if you spray too much it will look cloudy or glossy, it should look matte outside of the areas you hand gloss over like the jewels and such.

 fraser1191 wrote:

1. How many coats do I need to apply?
2. How will it affect his colours?
3. Do I coat the base as well?
4. I have bushes on my bases, would I need to stick with brush on varnish?

1. One.
2. Matte varnish won't.
3. Yes.
4. No.

You don't want to spray varnish over organic looking foliage or flock/tufts on your base because it will affect it. But you should be able to easily cover them up with some tape or something.

Again, as long as you use light coats varnish will not harm your foliage or static grass or anything else.

This is great guys I really appreciate the help. I'm sure I'll be able to make small cones out of painters tape if I have to.

I'll pick up some Munitorum Varnish soon then, along with Micro Sol and Micro Set. I never put on any transfers since they never went on right, but after seeing how easy micro sol and set are to use I gotta get my models clear coated haha

If you are going to use decals, make sure to use gloss varnish first, then the decals, then matte varnish. Putting decals onto matte varnish will leave a cloudy haze under the decal, but putting them on gloss is usually fine. I have the best decal results with a gloss varnish, then brushing on gloss, and while that is still wet, adding the decals.

If you are going to apply decals while the gloss is still wet ( which I do not advise) do not use micro sol and micro set. Only use those on a completely dry surface as they can interact with the wet varnish.

I like to use rattle can matte varnish after I’m completely done with a model. It is more durable than something like Vallejo matt varnish but goes on too thick for in-between coats IMHO. But it’s pretty expensive for the number of models you can spray so I use more coats of Vallejo matte for the same protection.

I normally do a coat of Vallejo matt before I start doing final highlighting and details so mistakes are easy to wipe/rub off.

Be sure you keep your model away from humidity while it dries. Humidity is what normally causes the fogging effect. Thankfully you just have to revarnish and the fog will go away.

Gloss varnish helps washes to flow better over the model’s surface. I don’t wash heavily or over the whole model with one wash so I don’t do this but I’ve seem a lot of painters do this. It seems best to do this if you sir brush and have really thin coats that could get rubbed off during washes. If you go this route you need to varnish again with matte to get a uniform surface for the rest of your painting. Between the gloss and the wash you’ll have a weird surface and it won’t be fun to paint in.

I’ve also used Pledge clear and water (3:1) for in-between costs and had good results.

TLDR I use matte varnish at least 2 times for all my models but will go as far as to do 4 depending on my mood and how the paint seems to behave.

Also if you want you can dip your clear canopies in Pledge clear to varnish them. You think Peachy has a video demonstration this.