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.

Im helping someone who is making a miniature version of our town in 1:26 scale. He brought up a point about outdoor protection (he has painted miniature housing etc) and since none of my paints can survive normal use (without varnish) I was wondering if they would be able to survive being stored outside even with a Varnish?

Any experience here?

Assumably you are asking this because it will be kept outside, my first question is how big is the whole replica going to be? Then does he need to keep it outside? 1:26 is roughly doll house size, it could be stored inside easily.

If it is so large it needs to be kept outside, I would be looking at ignoring varnish and using house paints or enamels.

Hobby specific paints would be way to expensive in terms of volume to be painting it all, as would varnish, unless you were using like deck polish.

Its an art project where its an outdoor exhibition, so it's like a miniature outside town.

The hobby specific paints are only for the models themselves, the buildings are being made with house paints etc.

We found someone local who knows their stuff and it seems varnish will be fine for the miniatures.

Use a varnish intended for exteriors.

You can try to use enamels instead. A thick layer of varnish will help. Damned near anything left in the weather for a while will fade over time, you can just try and slow it down.