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Evenin', all.

I picked up Forge World's Imperial Armour: Master Class Volume One, and in it the text talks about mixing washes and paints with floor polish, but doesn't advise as to the benefit of doing that.

So, for the knowers of paint, what does using floor polish do, and do I need to do it?

N.B. It's also a tad annoying that the book doesn't give you any measurements, simply stating 'thinned wash of black wash, brown wash, and brown oil paint.'

Still, I'm a noob, and I'm finding the technique in the book easy to follow, so it must be doin' something right. Good book.

Obviously it's to prevent people from scuffing up your models with their shoes.

cheap gloss varnish, that isn't rubbish and can be brushed or sprayed on.

you use gloss varnish as it gives a smooth surface for applying decals to, also helps to "blend" them to the surface of the model as they have a similar surface texture.

If you use micro-sol and micro-set on a decal on a layer of gloss it basically doesn't look like a decal any more and , with a sealing layer of gloss applied over it sandwiching the deca,l you can apply extra paint/weathering on top.

you don't really need measurements, its not an exact science, just thin to as much as you need to depending on the colours of whatever it is you are doing.

When it's added to washes I believe it reduces the surface tension and helps it flow into the recesses better.

 Velour_Fog wrote:
When it's added to washes I believe it reduces the surface tension and helps it flow into the recesses better.

Yes, also is a cheap way to seal in the models. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done. My FLGS's owner uses floor wax with some inks you buy at a craft store (yes, those like india inks), and he makes his own washes with them.

Ah, I see. Thanks y'all.

Is it good quality?

I guess i should pick some up and try it since im almost out of the GW gloss varnish. (i guess im a sucker lol)

does it work as a paint thinner for airbrushing? because i tried that with the GW gloss a few times and it worked like a charm. safe to spray?

Look for an Acrilyc bases floor wax..like future..that is the key to it working its cheaper than buing say liquitex mediums or GW's gloss ..

It can be really awesome to make a shiny Gem after you've sealed the Model with matte, just seal then apply a couple of layers of the floor polish with a brush to make it shine a bit.

kb305 wrote:
Is it good quality?

I guess i should pick some up and try it since im almost out of the GW gloss varnish. (i guess im a sucker lol)

does it work as a paint thinner for airbrushing? because i tried that with the GW gloss a few times and it worked like a charm. safe to spray?

I would only put airbrush thinner through my airbrush. I've done okay with windex, but I would not put anything floor polish through my ab.

Future/ klear airbrushes wonderfully. You have to use an ammonia based cleaner to clean it up though.

It is an amazing, very shiny varnish, even glossier than hobby brands like Citadel and Tamiya that make gloss varnishes for models. Glossier than Testor's too.

It also can be used as a thinner for airbrushes. Also what someone said about surface tension sounds about right though I've only heard of people buying it for this purpose once or twice.

The brand most people recommend is Future Floor Polish.

It's not a "wax" or a "polish". It's referred to as a floor "finish" because it's just a shiny topcoat for your floor. If you try to substitute with a wax or polish you're just going to end up confused and unhappy.

Floor polish is also used to hide cracks/blemishes in clear plastic parts such as windows and canopies.

Does the future brand sell in the UK, I use gloss extensively on my Nids, and a cheaper and frankly better alternative would be most welcome. As the GW 'ADR coat just doesn't cut the mustard.

You can buy it in the UK it's called Pledge Multi Surface Wax.

 Flippa wrote:
You can buy it in the UK it's called Pledge Multi Surface Wax.

Ah good old pledge, might not even need to buy it then!

It can also be used to thin certain water based wood stain shades that normally don't work too well as a dip, particularly blacks. Using it instead of water thins it but doesn't make it too watery so you still get the shading effect.

 Flippa wrote:
You can buy it in the UK it's called Pledge Multi Surface Wax.

Are you definitely, definitely, definitely sure about that?

Klear as is shown in the FWMM book (awesome book btw) hasn't been on sale for quite some years. There is allot of debate as to whether any of the manufacturers related are "Klear" or not.

If you can confirm that is the case and a hint of where you bout it in the UK I would be most grateful Flippa.

Yeh I'm sure about it. I use the stuff through my airbrush and it's rock solid. I also use it to thin paints and to help washes flow over the mini. Dries rock hard and see through, all in all a very cheap acrylic varnish and then some. Kind of a wonder product. I clean my airbrush with Cillit Bang, suitable for chromed taps so should be ok with my airbrush and it cuts through Klear like a knife through butter. Did have some issues to start with where I let it dry... forgot all about it but CB cleared it out and for the really dried on stuff just a little wipe with some isopropyl alcohol and all was good. Oh and bought it in ASDA but other supermarkets carry it, saw it in Waitrose last time I was in there.

Hope this helps.

Might point out that I've only been airbrushing for a few months and I'm still learning the ropes but I've not had any more problems than the usual noob when it comes to it.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Check out the pic in my gallery, that was varnished with Klear then an army painter dullcoat.

Here's a great link for use of future floor polish.
http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

 Flippa wrote:
Yeh I'm sure about it. I use the stuff through my airbrush and it's rock solid. I also use it to thin paints and to help washes flow over the mini. Dries rock hard and see through, all in all a very cheap acrylic varnish and then some. Kind of a wonder product. I clean my airbrush with Cillit Bang, suitable for chromed taps so should be ok with my airbrush and it cuts through Klear like a knife through butter. Did have some issues to start with where I let it dry... forgot all about it but CB cleared it out and for the really dried on stuff just a little wipe with some isopropyl alcohol and all was good. Oh and bought it in ASDA but other supermarkets carry it, saw it in Waitrose last time I was in there.

Hope this helps.

Might point out that I've only been airbrushing for a few months and I'm still learning the ropes but I've not had any more problems than the usual noob when it comes to it.




Automatically Appended Next Post:
Check out the pic in my gallery, that was varnished with Klear then an army painter dullcoat.

And it finishes just like a gloss would? Any issues with clouding etc?

No clouding, but if you put it over uncared pva the pva can remain cloudy. Ensure that whatever you're putting it on is fully dry and all is good.

winterdyne wrote:
No clouding, but if you put it over uncared pva the pva can remain cloudy. Ensure that whatever you're putting it on is fully dry and all is good.

I'll try get my hands on some this week and try a test model then, thanks guys..

I've seen some folks who add some food coloring to it and use it to tint the clear canopy on models.

So it's amazing what the promise of McDonalds breakfast can achieve. I now have a bottle of the pledge wax and will do some test runs this week.

 d-usa wrote:
I've seen some folks who add some food coloring to it and use it to tint the clear canopy on models.

This is an interesting idea, I've been trying to think of a way of giving my black carapaces a green tint, so they have the rain beetle look to them.

Eldercaveman wrote:
So it's amazing what the promise of McDonalds breakfast can achieve. I now have a bottle of the pledge wax and will do some test runs this week.

 d-usa wrote:
I've seen some folks who add some food coloring to it and use it to tint the clear canopy on models.

This is an interesting idea, I've been trying to think of a way of giving my black carapaces a green tint, so they have the rain beetle look to them.

Works better if you use ink. I have found with food coloring I have to use more color.

 Redfinger wrote:

Eldercaveman wrote:
So it's amazing what the promise of McDonalds breakfast can achieve. I now have a bottle of the pledge wax and will do some test runs this week.

 d-usa wrote:
I've seen some folks who add some food coloring to it and use it to tint the clear canopy on models.

This is an interesting idea, I've been trying to think of a way of giving my black carapaces a green tint, so they have the rain beetle look to them.

Works better if you use ink. I have found with food coloring I have to use more color.

Would it work with one of the new Glazes?

No you want to use an ink. p3 inks are pretty good, as are some of the artist inks as well.