Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Well ive finally finished greenstuffing and undercoated my first Emporors Children Pre Heresy marine and I am itching to have a go at painting it.

Here is my plan

First paint all the acrylics (base colours etc)

then im a bit confused because I want to use weathering powders which i need to seal with a Matt spray. So heres my question what is the best way to do this... could I do the base and the liquid gold then use weathering powders and then seal with matte and then go over the liquid gold areas with satin varnish Is this going to kill the LG finish Or would I be better of just not weathering the gold and painting it on after i have sealed the base with a matte finish. I have never used Liquid Gold before so its giving me a bit of a headache trying to figure out the logistics

Any help or ideas would be gladly appreciated.

Why not paint, weather, seal with matte and then go over the top with a little more paint to put the shine back which you lose with the varnish? It's a standard technique to use, layers of varnish to 'fix' a painted area and protect it when you go further to add more colour in a layer above.

You could just do the Liquid Gold after. Goes on real smooth and nice. Just be sure you shake it up and stir it up on the palette before you get rolling.

Thanks for the replies I was thinking of applying the gold after like you say I just really wanted to use weathering powders on the gold also the only way I can think of doing it would be to mask of the rest of the miniature and then spray on a satin varnish to seal the gold areas after... it seems like a lot of work :(

Hydrapup wrote:
Thanks for the replies I was thinking of applying the gold after like you say I just really wanted to use weathering powders on the gold also the only way I can think of doing it would be to mask of the rest of the miniature and then spray on a satin varnish to seal the gold areas after... it seems like a lot of work :(

Why use powders on gold? I usually just wash my gold with some sepia tones and a touch of green and purple in areas for color variation.

I just wanted it to match weathering on the rest of the model... do the washes not detract from liquid gold realistic appearance. Im a little worried about losing that edge after paying out for it.

You can go back over metals with a gloss or satin varnish to bring back the shine after washing/weathering them to give them shading. I do this with my crons, metal base, wash, gloss varnish to bring back the shine.

Hydrapup wrote:
I just wanted it to match weathering on the rest of the model... do the washes not detract from liquid gold realistic appearance. Im a little worried about losing that edge after paying out for it.

Light washes did well to deepen the recesses. I think it works fine. You could always just do some test models to see what works best.

Thanks guys awesome tips... One more thing if I was to be so bold... could i paint the mini with acrylics and the liquid golds then use weathering powders/washes, then seal with a matte spray and then go over the metalics with a satin varnish to bring back the shine... this would make it hella easier for me. Any downsides you can think off? I just cant see a way round not weathering my liquid brass smoke stacks with soot... Its Istavan Damn it

Yes you could do that. It wouldn't be any problem to do it that way.

The satin will give a slightly different luster to what the paint normally looks like, but it will come out pretty close.

For a gaming piece, you need to seal on weathering powders. This WILL kill the shine on the gold, as you use a matt / flat satin varnish.

The alternative is to use a gloss varnish (which alters the dustiness that powder weathering gives you).

The best look/durability result is difficult; you need to use the matt varnish, but then bring up the shiny/clean areas of metal with spot applications of gloss - this boils down to a fine brush, good high-gloss varnish and lots of time.

Careful using sprays on weathering pigments I head heard people accidentally spraying off all their hard work that way.

Best to use an airbrush, you then have much more control over the pressure and flow. You almost want to just dust it, but with rattlecan varnishes this can lead to a frosty finish as the varnish dries in flight much more with solvent bases.

winterdyne wrote:
Best to use an airbrush, you then have much more control over the pressure and flow. You almost want to just dust it, but with rattlecan varnishes this can lead to a frosty finish as the varnish dries in flight much more with solvent bases.

Agreed! Apply it with an airbrush!

Im using a badger airbrush to basecoat and I already have Vallejo varnishes on hand I juast need to get hold of some satin... Thanks again guys this has been a massive help I will up pictures when I can.

A badger? If you're using canned propellant, you'll run into the same sort of pressure control problems as with rattle cans.

Badger makes regular, non-canned airbrushes, so he should be fine.

I'm using an Iwata compressor it has variable pressure so I can tone it down so I don't see foresee and problems. Cheers!