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I am new to dakka but not painting or gameing. Heres some tips for non-painters wanting to start.

Rule 1: Any painted army looks way better than just a based army. PAINT your army even if your not good at it.
2:You dont have to be an artist. I have multiple 1st places. But I really am not that good of a painter. Layering is the key. what ever shade of paint you pick buy the next shade up too. Use this last as a drybrush highlight.
3: Have fun with it. Dont worry if its not your chapter color. Gaudy models draw a laugh around the table. I converted a Kroot to look like he is shooting himself for this reason.


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And last and most important dont varnish or matte coat it. The gloss finish it puts on just kills all your hard work at highlighting

Mal the Wolf wrote: And last and most important dont varnish or matte coat it. The gloss finish it puts on just kills all your hard work at highlighting

I think that last tip - about not sealing the minis - is mostly relevant for show pieces, as I know GWS's studio does this. However, if you intend to actually play with your miniatures, you'll probably want to protect them with something (usually, Dullcote) to prevent the weathering powders\paint from running off or easily chipping.

I also disagree on the varnishing point. Sure, gloss varnish looks silly on most surfaces, but a good matte varnish will leave your model's finish flatter than many brands of paint, not to mention protecting the paintjob from wear and tear. On a display model, I wouldn't give a final clearcoat, but for everything else, certainly. If varnish is ruining your highlighting, you're doing one or both wrong.

Gloss varnish followed by two coats of matte varnish is the way to go. On a display model that's going to sit in a case, sure, whatever, but on something you'll game with it's a good call.

And if you like the factory-fresh wargear look, or an army of slimy 'nids, playing around with gloss, satin and matt varnishes can be a painting experiment in its own right. In fact, a glossy carapace can look great with very little finery.

I agree that glossy can look good on some things. I have tried this bought some stuff that was supposed to be matte sealer. It sucked, glossy. So I bought the Citadel Purity Seal. painted half my pathfinders with it, worse looked like a white dry brush everywhere. If you look at them side by side with the others without is better.
I cant use it but glad some one can

@ Mal - Citadel varnish is awful. The only varnish I use is Humbrol enamels - the stuff usually used for airfix planes. Only drawback is it dulls metallics into greys and browns. Not an issue for me as a Nid player :3

I use the Army Painter matte varnish and can recommend. Citadel stuff used to be OK before they made the inexplicable decision to stop producing matte varnish and rebrand Purity Seal as this hideous satin creation.

@ filbert - how does AP varnish work on metallics?

I haven't noticed any major degredation or discolouration but then again, I only ever apply a very light varnish (I have no real need to protect them that much beyond minor wear and tear).

As with anything, a small test would be needed. I'm not a sufficiently skilled painter to warrant worrying too much about it.