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Hey guys,

Quick question for you (I hope ).

I've got some minis that I painted up awhile back, and when I was done, I hit them with a coat of matte varnish. Now I know that gloss varnish protects a lot better than just matte, so now all my minis get a coat of gloss varnish, and then a coat of matte to kill the shine.

So my question is, is it alright to go back on my old minis that are just matte varnished, spray them with come Glosscote, and then spray them again with matte varnish?

Do you think I would have any problems with that? Is it a good idea, or am I just going overboard? With as much work as I put into these things, I want them to be well protected.

How many coats of varnish do you guys usually give your minis?

Thanks,

-Hordini

If I have used VOC (Volatile Organic Compund) solvent based metallics (for example those felt tip pens that write in silver) I varnish those bits with acrylic varnish because VOC solvent varnish dissolves the metallic paint.

I then spray with VOC based gloss.

Depending on my mood I paint on carefully stirred and warmed matt or else do another coat of gloss if I am going for the "toy soldier" look.

I haven't found a completely satisfactory solution for the semi-matt look of paint on real military vehicles.

Before you recoat your figures I advise you to wash them if you have handled them.

Alright, is it safe to wash painted miniatures? What would I do, just run some water over them?

Let's say I didn't wash them, and then sprayed them with more varnish. What bad things could happen, and what's the likelihood of them happening?

Use a very soft brush (a v soft toothbrush will do) before you wash them to remove any dust - else it'll just turn to slush when you wash and may be harder to remove.

Mine get a coat of polycarbonate varnish when I'm done, and that stuff is waterproof. They do have a habit of collecting dust, though, so I have to give them a good clean now and then.