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Hey folks. I've been researching and have found some answers, but not to these two specific questions:


1. do you guys apply sealant (varnish) to your plastic models? Or just to the metal ones?

2. when you varnish a model, everything I've read says a coat of gloss varnish, followed by a dusting of testors dullcote. does anyone have a preference as to spray or painted GLOSS varnish? Also, does anyone have a brand they prefer when it comes to gloss varnish, or are they all pretty much the same (i hear horror stories about a lot of varnishes with them clouding up)


Mostly I'm just scared to death of my models chipping, but more scared of inexorably screwing them up.

1) I seal all of the models I play with. If its going to sit in a display case, or be entered into a painting contest I will not seal the model. Sealing can hide some details.

2) Unless you really beat on your models a Matte Varnish is fine, however for maxiumum protection a gloss varnish is the way to go. My preference for spray or painted varnish depends on how many models I'm painting at once. If its just a few models I'll brush it on. If its an entire squad I'll spray them. GW Hard Coat and the Vellojo Gloss Varnish work well, I've never had a problem with either. My paint on varnish of choice however is Liquitex Matte Varnish, I buy it in a large container at Michaels. As far as spray varnish goes, I only use Army Painter Matte Varnish, I've had mixed results with Krylon however.

Quick spray of Dulcote is all I do, although I don't actually use mine for gaming so dust is my enemy rather than over-handling.