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I recently started a CSM army, and I've gotten around to painting my Possessed Space Marines. I've encountered some difficulties, though, with keeping the damn paint ON the miniature! More specificly, the pointy ends of claws, fingers and spikes. I've tried matt and gloss varnishes, and about here ends my knowledge on the subject.
Any help will be appreciated. How do I keep the paint from comming off the points?

So, to clarify... you've painted it fine but it keeps chipping on the finer points of the model? Presumably because it's a tabletop model?

If so (and I know you said you've tried the varnishes, but have you used both of them on the same model?)

Gloss first, then matt to cut the shine. This is one of the best and strongest ways to seal a model.

Does it come off due to wear and tear or does the paint not go on in the first place?

If wear and tear. Use Tamiya TS-80 Flat Varnish spray. This has never failed me. Don't spray in 1 continuous go. Spray in spurts to stop putting on too much.

If it does not go on in the first place. clean it with soap and water before painting. Sometimes there is mould release all over the model from the manufacturing process.

It is due to wear and tear. Atm during the painting process itself (as you can probably see, it is still a WIP), but eventually due to tabletop usage.
I haven't tried both varnishes at the same time, so I Guess I'll try that right away. Really hope it works. Thanks :-)

That's not wear and tear per se. That's the paint not being completely set before you handle the model. Use some blue tac and attach the model to something else so you can handle it without touching the model.

Peredyne wrote:
That's not wear and tear per se. That's the paint not being completely set before you handle the model. Use some blue tac and attach the model to something else so you can handle it without touching the model.

I am quite certain the paint had set cempletely before I varnished it, and also that the varnish had set before I proceeded from there. What I meant was the handling AFTER this.

When I say completely set, I do not mean touch dry which occurs in 10 to 15 minutes. I mean set as in 24 hours dry. Also, are you using primer or are you painting onto bare material?

I don't see primer on the bare sections of that piece. Did you prime it first?

Peredyne wrote:
When I say completely set, I do not mean touch dry which occurs in 10 to 15 minutes. I mean set as in 24 hours dry. Also, are you using primer or are you painting onto bare material?

Ahh.. Witness the noobness that is me. You are right, then. It was just touch dry. Guess I'll try "real" dry next, if this doesn't work.
I do use a primer. Chaos Black spray from Citadel.

GeneralCael wrote:
Ahh.. Witness the noobness that is me. You are right, then. It was just touch dry. Guess I'll try "real" dry next, if this doesn't work.
I do use a primer. Chaos Black spray from Citadel.

Same thing happens to me if I'm rushing things while painting. Sometimes I'll rub projecting points against the cutting mat, without realizing it, while going at an awkward spot and abrade the top layer or two of paint. Also, note that Citidel's sprays are not actual primers, from what I gather, just normal spray paint. Usually good enough on plastic destined for varnishing (or the display cabinet), but not nearly as resilient as a true primer, which is specifically formulated for superior adhesion and more robust protection. Taking greater care during painting (a handle helps immensely, but I still occasionally chip my work while using one) and allowing things to fully cure (not just dry, as you now know) should keep everything intact until you're ready to varnish, though, even without changing what you use.