Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Just been into my local GW store to pick up a few supplies including a pot of gloss varnish, only to be told by the redshirt behind the counter that they have none in stock and GW are discontinuing the line due to poor sales.

Rather a pity I think as I've found it a godsend when it comes to giving a shine to such things as spirit stones, gems and helmet eye-pieces in my Eldar force.

The redshirt did suggest that I buy a can of varnish, spray it onto a plate and then transfer it across to my model with a brush. Not quite sure about this as it does seem rather fiddly if not potentially hazardous to one's health. As I'd think that most figure painters aren't usually known for painting outside (especially not in the current snowy conditions we're having at the moment) I would've thought that the gradual build-up of fumes could present a (somewhat admittedly slight) danger to anyone with asthma or other breathing related ailments as well as those with a tendancy to suffer from headaches or migraines.

I've noticed that the pots are still available to buy on the main GW website, perhaps now would be a good chance to stock up.

There are loads of companies which make gloss varnish in pots.

all of the pots in one of the local shops turned to a chunky gelatin (the other 3 shops don't have it any more)
maybe a bad batch / short shelf life?

I picked some GW gloss varnish up about a week ago at my local shop, they have a few pots left, but as I have been informed, they will not be receiving anymore. I think this stuff is great as it gives a wonderful gloss look on tyranid armor plates and other jewel looking bits on other models.

I'll have a check into this- but i remeber it was out of stock for a while- called up to find out if any more was ever coming and our store recivied a full stockup of it the next week... odd

Visit your local art supply store. Chances are good the quality will be just as good, if not better.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll have to stock up while I still can.

You know watered down PVA Glue achieves exactly the same effect right, Test your consistency on an old model first. But it looks and acts the same, infact I'd put money on my old screw top pot of Varnish from GW being watered down PVA.

Has anyone of you tried the vallejo gloss varnish yet?
I did and was very disappointed. It left a kind of grey shade rather than a nice and glossy cover.
Does anyone know what i've been doing wrong?

It left a kind of grey shade

It looks grey when it's wet and you've applied absolutely tons of it. It should be fine when it's dry. I haven't had any problems with vallejo gloss varnish, and I've done my entire Daemon army with it. However, I did spray them with matt varnish a week after painting the gloss on them. I use gloss varnish simply to make the models as protected as possible.

dodgex1 wrote:You know watered down PVA Glue achieves exactly the same effect right, Test your consistency on an old model first. But it looks and acts the same, infact I'd put money on my old screw top pot of Varnish from GW being watered down PVA.

I'll be happy to take your money up on that one the gloos varnish is too shiny to be PVA and it doesn't taste the same


Don't drink/eat/taste the glues and paints- they taste bad

GW is not the be-all end-all of paints and painting equipment. Any train shop worth it's salt will have gloss (an matte) water-based paint-on clear coat. And don't overlook the cheap-axe applebarrel and folkart paints, I use them alot, especially for terrain.

Thalor

I swear by a 50/50 mix of these two:


The finish is almost identical to citadel and vallejo paints (the satin style finish). Here is a photo of the finish (on the red and black) compared to unvarnished grey:


That is using the harshest light at the most unappealing angle I could to make it stand out as much as possible.

I LOVE the Vallejo Gloss.

The Satin is good, too.

I'm not such a big fan of the Vallejo MATTE sealer, though... as it comes out rather glossy to me. It's still nice to use as an initial coat, though, before spraying your sealers on the model.


Eric

Matt varnish often benefits from being warmed and stirred very well before application. It is basically gloss varnish with a matting agent added, which dissolves better if you warm the varnish to about hand hot water termperature.

I really only use GV for transfer application, does GW Matt produce the same effect?

Try Envirotex Lite Pour-On Gloss Varnish - it's the gak !
You can easily make water with it too and it's very cheap !!!

For a true matte finish try Gunze or Tamiya Matte Top Coat - you'll love it : )