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So I am looking for a way to protect the paint from the oils on skin and from any other possible misshap? Now I figure depending on play it might need to be reapplied. I also figure it might need a matte or a gloss coat depending on what you want the model to look like. I have heard of glosses and or lacquers? beinging used for this task. But is there one that seems to be more popular or more readily available? Or does a really good job?

GWs purity seal is pretty decent stuff, TBH. A bit pricy... but very practical.

Other than that, if your airbrushing, any matt varnish from a repuatable Model Paint line should work.

I wouldnt use gloss varnish in general. But thats me...

wolfshadow wrote:GWs purity seal is pretty decent stuff, TBH.

this is probably the worst advice ever. purity is the absolute worst sealant i've ever used, seen or smelled. the gak will, under the right circumstances, totally destroy your paint. i know GW stores that won't sell it.

i was recommended to use krylon crystal clear acrylic coating by a pro painter, and have been using it since. it's cheap and works just great. dry in 10, ready to be shown off in 2 hours.

I've never ever had a problem with Purity Seal.

So news of problems is news to me.

Testor's dullcoat

Brotherjulian wrote: Testor's dullcoat

Is that its legit name, because I can get testors paint cheap. I tried to find it on their website and am having difficulty. Thanks for that tip.

dalsiandon wrote:

Brotherjulian wrote: Testor's dullcoat

Is that its legit name, because I can get testors paint cheap. I tried to find it on their website and am having difficulty. Thanks for that tip.

that's the name on the spray that i use also. no complaints here and i've used it for years.

dalsiandon wrote:

Brotherjulian wrote: Testor's dullcoat

Is that its legit name, because I can get testors paint cheap. I tried to find it on their website and am having difficulty. Thanks for that tip.

It's spelled "Dullcote"

Like these

Highly recommended. It also works well to take the shine off of dipped models.

I use Testor's Dullcote and Glossgoat. Dullcote on the whole model and then Gloss up the shiny gems and 'wet' 'Niddy parts.

However, I prefer the brush-on variant. It gives you much greater control of where you apply it, and I've never fogged up my models. Its downside is that if you brush it over the same spot several times, it may 'reactivate' the paint.

Hello,
I have to agree with the Dullcote, however it has a hell of a smell, so use outside not in the basement .

Regards,
Carl

I use Testors Dullcote for centerpiece models, but the Krylon Crystal Clear is available in gloss and flat. It works terrific on rank and file, vehicles and other large projects because you get a lot more paint for your money. It doesn't yellow, dries super quick, and is moderately less smelly than the Testors. For stuff I want to last forever, I'll apply 3-5 clearcoats.

any spray varnish will work

one quick thing to note about Testers dullcote, it is not a varnish it is a lacquer and doesn't provide the same protection as a gloss varnish.

I use a brush on gloss and then dullcote over the top of that.

would Citadel's 'ardcoat work for some models???

The 'ardcoat is pretty good stuff and should be fine. There is a lot of snobbery when it comes down to varnishes etc. If you are after protecting from grease from your fingers any varnish or lacquer will be fine as it only serves as a barrier, although I don't varnish everything and haven't yet seen any damning evidence that fingers alone do any damage to the paint.

Having said that if you're accident prone and store your stuff in a way where they rub together they will probably need a gloss type of varnish, spray is better for larger flat areas, then a matt varnish coat to dull it back down.

I mainly use it on the eyes of my csm but is there something thats not too glossy that when its in light it shines???

For the best, highest-strength protection, Dipping is the way to go. The polyurethane coat is practically indestructable - anything that will chip it will break the material underneath at the scale we are working with. It also stands up to wear and tear extremely well.

If you're not dipping, then use 2 or more coats of a gloss varnish. 'Ard Coat is the GW version, there are many others around that are just as good and approximately half to quarter the cost.


At any rate, both methods leave the mini rather shiny. Use a matte or flat varnish (Krylon) or laquer (Testor's Dullcote) over that to take the shine off.

Testors also makes a semigloss which i really like for most of my figs. I sometimes will experiment with a gloss cote followed by dullcote or dullcote then glasscote but my best results are usually picking one and staying with it for two or three sprays. Never had a problem with Testors and I really like the three levels. Also, my marines rarely get used because I have a hard time finding gaming opponents. So I cant talk about Testors protection under heavy usage. i do like it tho

Testor's Dullcote has a much nicer matte finish than other spray-on matte varnishes I've tried. I spray with gloss varnish first for durability, then give a coat of Dullcote to erase the shine. For gems and the like, I have a bottle of Vallejo's gloss varnish I can brush on over those areas.

I use gloss varnish, but that's also because I want the wet and slimy alien look. Enhances my mediocre paint job as well, so I'm very happy with it.

Can somebody answer a related question I have to this? Ok make that a second question...

I am a Blood Angel player so I have Sang Guard and Dante etc that are painted in metalic colors. Up until now I just spray everything other than the metalics with Testors Dullcote and it gives a great pop to the paint bringing everything out nicely.

My issue however is that I have heard that the Dullcote will melt metalic paints? Can anybody shine some light on this? I'm currently too affraid to spray my Sang Guard!

Lars wrote:I use gloss varnish, but that's also because I want the wet and slimy alien look. Enhances my mediocre paint job as well, so I'm very happy with it.

When you run Hive Fleet Giger Tyranids that makes since.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
This info is super valuable guys, the experience and know-how from this site is shown right here in this thread. I'm a newbie and yet no one complains about me asking a question that has probably been asked 100 times before. Very classy San Diego, very classy

As long as you post in the right section and don't use leet-speak Dakka is pretty friendly.

wolfshadow wrote:As long as you post in the right section and don't use leet-speak Dakka is pretty friendly.

Can you PM me with a definition. I don't want to derail my own thread if that means what I think.



Alright so I have the 'ardcoat from GW, I've had it for a while I got it to shine-up a custom Giger Alien mini I did for an SWM contest. And it is super shiney. So I apply that first and then spray on this dullcote or dip it into somekind of material?

And Can the dip process be a bit more clarified. Pretend my common sense isn't working and humor me. What kind of product am I looking for when dipping is the thing to do? And how long does one hold the model in the dip?

Dullcote is great stuff. That's what I use. They make both a spray can and a liquid formulation you can paint on. Both must be shaken very well before using, as they separate quickly.

Here is a tutorial on how to dip. Please note that Minwax Polyshades is also available rebadged as Army Painter, for three times the price.

I use an estapol spray varnish (satin) and then hit it with a matt after it dries (up to a week).

They're polyurethane varnishes. Tough and hardwearing. Cheaper than GWs stuff and a lot more easy to source.

I use the Testors Dullcote out of the bottle with a brush, that way I get it where I want it and not where I don't.
I've not had bad luck with GW ard coat for glossy touch ups.

I still have a pot or 2 of 'Ardcoat, works well enough for me, but is a little glossy, but its rather good at protecting them from me.

Pyronick wrote:Can somebody answer a related question I have to this? Ok make that a second question...

I am a Blood Angel player so I have Sang Guard and Dante etc that are painted in metalic colors. Up until now I just spray everything other than the metalics with Testors Dullcote and it gives a great pop to the paint bringing everything out nicely.

My issue however is that I have heard that the Dullcote will melt metalic paints? Can anybody shine some light on this? I'm currently too affraid to spray my Sang Guard!

You will be fine. Never heard of the 'issue' and probably never will. Used Dullcote on models with metallics and it does nothing other than what it is supposed to.

Has anyone used Vallejo spay varnish? Also, how long can you let a can sit before you'll have problems?