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Super Newb wrote:

I've never varnished my models. Should I do that once I finish my gesso primed models? Is gesso really noticeably less durable?

Gesso isn't much (if any) less durable, but a varnish is always recommended no matter what primer and paint you use. It's a very quick step and is really the only way to make sure that your paintjobs survive extended tabletop use. A spray on gloss coat followed by a matte coat is best, but at a minimum, 2 layers of brush on matte varnish (if you've got nowhere to spray) will go a long way toward preserving your minis.

My minis are dipped (a liquid polyurethane and stain mix) which is even tougher than a gloss spray coat and then I give them a coat or two of matte to kill the shine.

Well if I varnish I think it would have to be in big batches with spray because otherwise that would take way too much time.

So I'd have to plan for that and bring my models somewhere I could spray...

What spray varnishes do people use?