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Is there something I can paint that comes out clear and glossy? Like nail varnish but not nail varnish?
I do the armour bits on my nids glossy like that so far nail varnish has been fine of small gaunts etc but its a bit thick to do neatly on larger nids so, after something that'll get the same effect but paints on thinner.

What's 'Ardcote? I was under the impression that's a clear matt finish more for protecting the paint beneath without making it look different

Ardcoat is a gloss. Pretty much all paint manufacturers will do a clear gloss of some sort. I like vallejo's.

Ah OK so would it give the same super shiney nail varnish effect?

As I say, I thought 'ardcote was more of a protective thing rather than any kind of finish/effect

 Xiorell wrote:
Ah OK so would it give the same super shiney nail varnish effect?

As I say, I thought 'ardcote was more of a protective thing rather than any kind of finish/effect

Hardcoat will give you exactly that effect.

It can be used as a protective layer, and varnishes are normally used in that manner.

However, if you apply it sparingly using a brush, its a glossy varnish that will give you the effect that you are after. Alternatively you can just buy a generic glossy varnish (a number of art ranges will have a version) rather than hardcoat.

Gloss varnish. Widely available in enamel and acrylic in brush-on and spray versions.

I use spray polyurethane gloss as the main protective layer.

I went and grabbed a small can of Clear acrylic gloss polyurethane from the hardware store.

I brush it on 100%(as my protective coat), dull coat my mini with Krylon, then go back with the gloss with a normal size paint brush to touch up the places that I still want glossy.

I only paid $5 for a can that will last damn near forever. Just check that the can you get is non-yellowing and you're golden.

Future!

Acrylic mediums tend to be clear onthe most part, and come in a variety of sheens. Liquitex for example offer 'matte', 'Ultra Matte' 'Gloss' 'Airbrushing' and 'Glazing' mediums, all are useful for different jobs and tbh you probably should have a selection in the paint box for any occasions that you want to alter a paints properties.
Varnish is another option but is not paint.

Varnish 'should' dry with a rather smooth surface and be unsuitable for taking more layers of work. would typically require sanding a bit to key the surface again.
Mediums are essentially non pigmented paint, in the case of acrylic mediums theyre are just different binders each having its own sheen, opacity or viscosity.

Tamiya Clear. I like the results better than with any glaze or varnish.