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I've tried out two different clear "matte" finish spray paints for my miniatures and both have ended up way too glossy. I want to be able to overcoat my models for protection, then 'ard coat my eldar gems and have them stand out from the rest of the model, not be lost in a sea of gloss. What do you guys use to overcoat your models without having them appear "wet"?

Testors Dullcote.

When you have to flatten the shine off every motherfethin miniature in the room?

Accept no substitute.

Vallejo Matte Varnish works as well.

 azreal13 wrote:
Testors Dullcote.

When you have to flatten the shine off every motherfethin miniature in the room?

Accept no substitute.

This. 1000x this.

looked up some videos of the two suggestions. They look perfect! Thanks a ton guys! You all rock <3

+1 for Vallejo matte varnish.

I also like Testors Dullcote, but I can run the Vallejo through my airbrush without thinning while Testors needs thinning with alcohol, slightly more of a bother to thin and clean up.

I use army painter anti gloss. But before you try something new, if you are spraying the models outside the temputure can effect the after coat and make it shiny. I've experienced this with my anti gloss acouple times.

Paint on Vallejo Matt Varnish.
You can build up layers of it and there's no chance of frosting.
Yeah it's a little more time consuming but I'd rather have the control.

Into sure how humid it gets where you live but it's a problem I encounter when I varnish my models. This is hshp's blog and if you get the dreaded dull coat "frost", here is how to fix it.

http://nicemannersforathief.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-save-your-dipped-models-from.html

I had similar problems and finally settled on Army Painter dull coat. This has worked out very well for me.

I've read that if you cover a model with too thick a coat of matt it will go glossy - the trick is to do as thin a coat as possible, which is why it's always advisable to protect your work with gloss varnish first then take the shine off with the matt.

I would think that insufficient mixing is an even more likely candidate for glossiness from a matte varnish than overly thick application, as the matting agent in most products settles out rather quickly, but that's also a possibility. Some brands are also known to be less matte than others (e.g. Liquitex matte is more of a satin), but even they shouldn't turn out glossy.

Personally, I swear by Dullcote. Might give Vallejo matte a try (I use their gloss for spot applications) if I start airbrushing more regularly, but since I predominantly use aerosols, it's Dullcote all the way.

Dullcote all day, erryday. It sometimes takes two coats, but that's just more protection for your minis at the end of the day.

It.may also cure glossy if it's left to cure in a colder environment.

For spray coating, I use the Army Painter Anti-Shine. It's just as good as the Testor's Dullcoat, but is in a larger spray can. If I'm doing it by hand, I use Liquitex Matte Varnish.

When I use matt varnish, whether spray or brush on, I rest the tin in warm water and stir/shake carefully, to help the matting agent dissolve completely. This improves the matt effect.

If using spray, don't make it too hot!

Floquil used to make a product called "Figure Flat" that was hands down the best matte varnish I've ever used. I haven't been able to find it in the US in over a decade and I'm not sure if it's still made. Even over a gloss lacquer, a light shot and the shine is gone. Testor's works well enough but the Floquil was hands down better.

Regardless of what product you use, you have to make sure it is mixed extremely well, you can't apply it too heavily, and the environmental conditions have to be favorable.