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I'm a big fan of the old cardstock buildings that GW used to produce. I know they don't look quite as awesome as new plastic, painted terrain, but I appreciate them for all of their retro charm. In addition to some random cardstock models from White Dwarf, I've got the complete set from Gorkamorka and its supplements, as well as the cardstock Ork Watch Tower from White Dwarf, and the cardstock ork building GW used to sell separately.

I've only assembled the Gorkamorka Fort (and sundries), years ago, when I first bought a Gorkamorka box. It's largely been sitting on a shelf (safely protected from light and dust), but it sees little use because I'm so afraid of wrecking it (like my mate's Necromunda scenery, which has fallen apart from hard use).

Is there a good way to protect cardstock buildings? Can they be varnished with something like Testor's Glosscoat? I'd really like to protect and preserve these charming old elements of GW's past, without consigning them to never seeing the gaming table.

Though I shouldn't admit it as an Ork player, I also have a lovely Grudge of Drong set of buildings that need this help too.

Not sure about Varnish but, What about using Puzzle Glue? it will add a protective layer and it dries clear so you can still see the puzzle underneath, maybe try it on some random colored cardboard to see the effect and practice the application. the other option, if your worried about bends and such would be to go to a framing shop and have them "mounted" on backing board. its used for paper items, scrolls ect being framed as it adds some rigidity to the peice during framing. The last option i have would be to take them to a good color copier and photo copy them, mount the copys onto foam core and store the originals for safe keeping. then you get to use the copy and not worry about hurting them, may be hard to find some one to copy it though as there are prob copyright laws against it so that might not work.... GL and hope one of these options helped.

I've used thin coats of brush-on matt varnish with no problems.

To lengthen life of card scenery, also consider internal bracing - I've usually used carefully cut slabs of foam packing, white-glued into place, which doesn't add to the weight much. Of course, this is no good for any walls only a single sheet of card thick (as you can't hide it), but is great for buildings.

Thanks for the helpful replies so far. I've got access to puzzle glue, so I might try that out.

I'm hoping a varnish will work, because I'd love to be able to hit it with Testor's (gloss, then dull) for easy reinforcement.

The mention of internal reinforcement is a good one. I think most of these will be fine, because they will be affixed to a sturdy base (which will act to reinforce them), but the rickety towers, in particular, will benefit from some plastic struts or foamboard internal reinforcement a lot.

Anybody else have some relevant experience?

What a lot of puzzle makers use is a product called Modge Podge. It's a craft glue but also makes a good sealant, I've used it myself many many times.

However, before any of that.. can you carefully disassemble the building? I would try to make high quality photocopies of the parts of even scan them in, to save as masters. This stuff isn't in print anymore, so I think you'd do everyone a greater service by creating a master copy for preservation rather then just trying to coat a single model.