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I have collected my 40k models since 2008 and have not varnished a single model. I read all these posts on various forums where people were freaked out because the varnish actually made the model look worse. (like frosting) I want to pick up bottles of Vallejo matte + gloss varnish (paint on) but I've heard a lot of top tier painters don't varnish their models because it ruins the final look. Question: Should I do it? I game fairly regularly and I really want to protect my models, but I'm also very worried about the negative effects varnishes may have.

I varnish all of my models and only once had the dreaded frosting effect, when using a can of GW Purity Seal. Since then, I exclusively use the Vallejo varnishes - specially their new polyurethane acrylic varnish is awesome.

Varnish can change to look of your model, if you're not careful. Thin and even coats will yield better results than one thick single coat.

The top painters don't paint for the table top in most cases. Single figures on display stands will see a lot less wear than a rank and file marine will. If you handle the mini on a regular basis, you should varnish to protect it properly.

For some further reading on the subject check out: http://ik-painter.blogspot.com/2011/07/hobby-basics-iv-varnish.html

Cheers,


IK-Painter

Thanks for the helpful advice. I'm wondering if anyone could post a comparison pic between an unvarnished model and a varnished model, that would be great

I believe that it's humidity & cold that causes the frosty effect.
As you are now approaching summer I would wait until early evening (so it's still warm not hot) but before the night turns cold.

Testor's Dull Coat...'nuff said

Ashton

Agree with Redfinger. Dull Cote is the best. Use a layer for gloss varnish first for durability and then dull cote it to take out the gloss.

Got the dreaded frosting on one of the wings on my Thunderhawk I was not amused! Got to go and touch it up now.

Its the cold that did it left it too late when I got in from work :(

Yes, varnishes effect the finished work, usually for the worse. Yes the top modellers often don't varnish their models.

That is because they aren't going to TOUCH them. If you are going to touch your models, you really should varnish them. Otherwise you lose your highlights, get chips taken out of the edges, etc. You go back to a model you had sworn you had given a beautiful finish, and it looks dull.

One good work around to the downsides of varnishing is to touch up paint after the varnish, especially metallics which lose a lot of their metallic sheen when varnished.

testors isn't an option for me, it's quite hard for me to access it here in Australia. I do think that retouching after varnishing is a good idea though, but over time the retouched areas would probably wear off...

believe that it's humidity & cold that causes the frosty effect.
As you are now approaching summer I would wait until early evening (so it's still warm not hot) but before the night turns cold.

^
A friend of mine dips his armies (the army painter stuff is varnish and goes on pretty thick) and then coats them with a dull coat to kill the shine.

Also if you ever work with oils for weathering, varnishing is a super must since the oils take forever to dry but varnishing seals them.

I just varnish my stuff indoors with the AC on. I do it before i head out for the day, and use a respirator so I don't breath in delicious varnish fumes. Never had problems varnishing indoors.

Far Seer wrote:testors isn't an option for me, it's quite hard for me to access it here in Australia. I do think that retouching after varnishing is a good idea though, but over time the retouched areas would probably wear off...

They would definitely wear off with time. Unless you varnish them, which would lead to more retouching, which would lead to more varnishing, which would lead to more retouching, which would lead to more varnishing, which would lead to more retouching... ARGH

;-)

Far Seer wrote:testors isn't an option for me, it's quite hard for me to access it here in Australia. I do think that retouching after varnishing is a good idea though, but over time the retouched areas would probably wear off...

Unless your painting to a very high standard you won't notice much of a differance between a varnished and unvarnished model.

To avoid the white mist problem there are two general apporchaes you can use. The first is to use brush on varnishes. The second is to watch your temperaturer and humidity, I generally spary varnish in my basement which is cool and dry. For brush on varnishes I've used a number of products over the years, including the GW 'Ard Coat, generally I use whatever brand of gloss and matte varnish that Michaels is selling at the time. Pretty much any brush on varnish is going to give you the same level of results. For spray varnish I use Krylon Crystal Clear, which is a gloss and then I use their Matte sealer which as the name suggests is a Matte varnish.

I understand that the trick with Matte Varnishes is to spray very light coats rather than drowning the model, thinking more spray = more matte.

bubber wrote:I understand that the trick with Matte Varnishes is to spray very light coats rather than drowning the model, thinking more spray = more matte.

This is true of any spray on product, more light coats is better then fewer heavy coats.

Paint on varnishes for me. It's wet and hot here all-year round.

Wow, that sounds really naughty.