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Just a shout out to the UK modellers here. I'm having difficulty keeping the paint on the edges of a land speeder I'm painting (by hand I should mention) from from rubbing off the Halfords Grey Primer when I have to grip the model parts and sub-assemblies. There's not much I can do about that apart from careful handling, but I've decided that I should apply a matt varnish over the model post-painting to keep it from disintegrating whenever I move it. So, any ideas what brands of matt varnish I can get within the UK are effective and reasonably priced?

You can get the Vallejo mat varnish although its not a spray. If you have an airbrush you could use that

I would advise putting a gloss varnish on first then a matte varnish over the top to kill the shine.

Gloss gives much harder wearing protection than matte.

Personally I use a fairly cheap one from Wilkinsons (about 6 quid a can). It does the job, but be careful while it dries as it can act as a solvent and makes the paintjob vulnerable to smudging if touched.

For the matte, there is only ever one choice - Testor's Dullcote, hard to find retail, but easy to find online, even at Ebay. Simply the best matte varnish going (unpleasant smell though, so if you have somewhere like a garage you can store the figures while drying for 24 hours you'll appreciate it).

The tins are quite small and about £3.50 - £4 each plus postage - I usually buy 4 - 6 tins depending on postage prices. Antenociti's Workshop usually have it in stock, but a Google Shopping search will bring up alternatives.

@L-C-Corvus - Unfortunately I don't have an airbrush so that's out of the question. thanks anyway.

@Richred - Is Testors Dullcoat a spray? and will I still need to gloss varnish it first?

Testors Dullcote is available as a spray and a brush on, I only ever use the spray and that's what my post refers to.

I would advise gloss varnishing first, especially if you want to use the model for gaming (more handling than just sitting in a cabinet). Gloss just gives better protection, and a light spray of dullcote afterwards will kill the shine dead.

My usual routine is paint during the week, finish whatever I can Saturday morning, spray cheap Wilkinson gloss varnish Sat lunchtime and leave overnight to dry/ off-gas. Spray Dullcote Sunday lunchtime and leave overnight to off-gas, put away Monday.

<EDIT to add links>

http://www.antenocitisworkshop.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=dullcote

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=testors+dull+cote&oq=testors+dull+cote&aqs=chrome.0.69i57j0l3j69i62l2.4569j0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=testors+dull+cote&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ei=zuruUcm_NomDhQeo_4HwBg&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAw&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.49641647%2Cd.ZG4%2Cpv.xjs.s.en_US.NyLNrjc7wJY.O&fp=f3d6d8ae73c7a70d&biw=1100&bih=712

You want the white or blue spray cans (I forget which is the latest design).

I wouldn't normally say you need to gloss varnish anything other than metal, acrylic sticks so well to resin or plastic that a matt coat is normally all you need, if anything at all. But as you're struggling with what I assume is a plastic kit, gloss should solve the problem, but look for a different primer if I were you.

A coat of matt can make it easier to appreciate a good paint job though, as it cuts down on the shiny finish that some paints and washes can leave behind.

I will second Dullcote, Trolltrader are another UK based seller that carry it, and maintain a presence on eBay and their own site. I've had ok results with Citadel Purity Seal, but it does have a reputation for fogging (something that has happened to me, but only when applying second coats too soon) It is readily available though.

sounds like you're not allowing the paint to dry and cure properly before your handle it, and being too rough with it at the same time. Varnish will also rub off the same way if handled too soon.

Halfords do a matt lacquer too though. seems like you can get to a local halfords store and this product should be easily available for you.

Might be worth noting that the grey automotive primer is 'suppposed' to be sanded before paint application, if you were spraying say a car, you would sand, prime, sand, paint, sand, laquer, sand and polish. with a heck of a lot of cleaning between every step. Sanding a model might be a bit tricky the primer doesnt have the perfect tooth to it straight out of the can, you might do better with army painter sprays. Dont get me wrong... I use Halfords grey, and I love it! But if this is an issue for you, a primer with more natrual tooth might be the way to go.

@richred_uk - Cheers for the links, i'll take a look.

@azreal13 - Again, I'll see if I can hunt down Dullcoat from 'Trolltrader' (Seriously - 'Troll-trader' - what where they thinking? )

@Hairysticks - Yeah it probably is because I'm not leaving it long enough to dry, but when painting a largish vehicle by brush time is of the essence. I've got to get the paint down rapidly before it drys leaving a paint-line. Even using a medium and a flow improver it still dries quickly because of the size of panels and also because the main colour I'm using, GW's 'Warpstone Glow', has a somewhat notoriously goopy consistency. Hence, I'm having to spin the model around rather fast and my gripping is rather hasty in an effort to paint faster. The varnish is really just as a fail-safe in case this happens even when dry.

might be worth looking at mounting some sort of handle to hold it by while working.

Troll Trader gets a thumbs up from me, I've used them for greenstuff and army painter spray many times, always pretty prompt delivery so far

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/thetrolltrader (ebay store includes 2nd hand figures)

http://www.thetrolltrader.com/ (website includes everything EXCEPT 2nd hand figures.

I have mounted vehicles on upside down plates before. A bit of Olive oil between the two allows the upper plate to freely rotate.

If you did have an Airbrush then I use Daler Rowney Gloss and W&N Galleria Matt varnish. These are available at any art store, some hobbt store and all Hobbycrafts.

As an aside Modelzone are closing down and are shifting all of their Humbrol spray cans (the little 250ml ones) at half price, so £2.50ea. Its pretty good stuff and they have a Gloss and a Satin in the range.

For anyone looking for Dullcote, you can get it here:

http://www.wampstore.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&manufacturer_id=49&product_id=763

They're an english store too.

Thanks for the replies guys (an girls if that's the case ), I'll get on to having a look at all those links.