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I obtained some old metal Catachan Epic Heroes and Infantry, (blog coming soon) but I learned that paint chips on edges easily on metal miniatures. I will be running at least thirty Guardsmen in small games, so having to go back and touch up minis is not an attractive idea at all, and I try to hold them by the base, but sometimes I slip up and grab them by guns or something. I haven't even primed these guys yet, I got 'em secondhand so they were probably already stripped. I'll be sure to clean any mold release agents off, though. I asked at my Not-so-local-somewhat-friendly-game-place, and a worker said what they do is to prime the mini, varnish it, paint the mini, then varnish it again, and when I asked which Vallejo varnish to use, I got told that a certain kind works better with citadel or matte paints. Problem with this is that I use citadel and vallejo, and I'm not sure what to do now, as I'm doubting the strength of Varnish and the kind to use. What methods do you all use? Is there even a way to prevent it?

I use this on all my models:



I use mostly Citadel paints (I even have some older paints going back as far as 2000 that are still viable) but I also use some Vallejo, and even some poster paints for extreme highlights. This clear coat has never let me down.

I prime first (usually Citadel, but sometimes Army Painter or Krylon for terrain), then paint the model, then clear coat it. Never had a problem in 30+ years with this method. I don't have chipping issues with my metal models except in the rare cases of getting dropped by clumsy players.

Metal is prone to chipping. That's just the way it is.

Making sure to clean off the mold release, using a good primer,, keeping fingers off the model while painting, and using a good varnish all help a lot, but nothing can 100% prevent all chipping if the mini is either handled a lot, or dropped.

 KidCthulhu wrote:
I use this on all my models:



I use mostly Citadel paints (I even have some older paints going back as far as 2000 that are still viable) but I also use some Vallejo, and even some poster paints for extreme highlights. This clear coat has never let me down.

I prime first (usually Citadel, but sometimes Army Painter or Krylon for terrain), then paint the model, then clear coat it. Never had a problem in 30+ years with this method. I don't have chipping issues with my metal models except in the rare cases of getting dropped by clumsy players.

Thank you! Are there any other ways you prevent it? It boggles my mind how some people say they have had no problems with chipping, while others say that you can’t prevent it!

I’m mainly asking because I have characters in metal. The old sculpts are beautiful, but judging by the current rules for them, they will be picked off like flies, so infantry do not matter as much. But I still like to have models I can be proud of, and it’s hard when you spend an hour or two lovingly painting that little guy only to mess him up out of brief carelessness. And how can you be proud of that 90s screaming Sly Marbo you painted when his biceps keep chipping? Guess it’s a worry about a ship of Theseus situation, where you touch it up so much it doesn’t look the same. I got some bolt action metals, different designs and era but are they a good test, do you think?

I don't really have any other advice. I have a ton of metal models and regular handling never gives me chipping issues.

I also recommend using an older metal model as a sacrificial lamb to get used to applying it. My friend once spent hours on an old school 90's metal Necromancer only to put too much clear coat on the model, making it an ugly shiny mess with no discernible details.

Can highly recommend AK Ultra Matte Varnish for dulling those shiny miniatures back down. It saved a couple of paintjobs I did a few years back that I had spray varnished into the aforementioned ugly shiny mess. The only thing is it can 'grey' things a little bit if you're not careful how thickly you apply it. A couple of thin coats usually works great for me, though.

Protect your metal minis by giving them a matt varnish layer.

Handling is instrumental, try to grab them by the base when possible.

However, no matter what, edges will chip if manipulated enough, even varnished, over time, like pretty much any paint ever.