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As stated in the title what do you guys think is the best? I have a can of armory clear coat matte, but it seems to be getting a bit of a bad rap. Also people seem to suggest testors dullcote, but the only problem is I use a lot of metal colors in my army and I don't want them to get super dulled. So with that in mind what would the best course of action be?

I like the vallejo varnishes, I use them thinned 1:1 with my airbrush.
But depending on what colors you are useing, you might try a more satin varish, because most tabletop related colors have a quite satin finish, which you loose, if you use a matt varnish.

der ray wrote:
I like the vallejo varnishes, I use them thinned 1:1 with my airbrush.
But depending on what colors you are useing, you might try a more satin varish, because most tabletop related colors have a quite satin finish, which you loose, if you use a matt varnish.

I am using a decent amount of metals and a lot of blues. Would that be effected at all?

some examples of my work, so people can get an idea of what I am dealing with.

Testor's Dullcote all the way. Anything that you want to be shinier, go back over with a brush-on gloss.

 insaniak wrote:
Testor's Dullcote all the way. Anything that you want to be shinier, go back over with a brush-on gloss.

Okay thanks, just was annoyed since a trench rail got chipped down to resin and for some reason I lose paint, specifically mournfang and gorthor brown have been peeling away from white gw primer.

Honestly i have tried lots of varnishes and the best i found are the alclad 2 varnishes.

They are laquor paint so they are a bit smelly but they are just great. http://alclad2.com/finishes/aqua-klears/

Also they dry completely in 15 minutes. I also have there primers and they are great. they are super thin and really bite into the model and hold well.

What about spray matte varnish? any clear winers? nu pun intended, actually. And I usually intend them.

I swear by Dullcote, but I also don't usually like terribly shiny metals. It still leaves metallics with a sheen distinct from flat or satin colors, but the "bling" is gone.

The best way to maintain the sheen of the bare paints while increasing protection is a satin/semi-gloss varnish. Liquitex matte is a popular option for those that brush or airbrush their varnish - it's much more on the satin side of matte than something like Dullcote or Vallejo matte. I'm sure there are any number of decent aerosol options, but I don't have much call for satin finishes - I'm usually aiming for dead flat or fully glossed.

I use Artists's Matte Varnish. Specifically "Winsor Newton Galeria Acrylic Matt Varnish". It's brush on, so it's really easy to apply and to apply multiple coats quickly regardless of humidity or cold that can affect spray can varnishes and sometimes cause frosting. I brush it on without watering it down. Also, it's quite affordable and Winsor Newton is a trusted artist's brand.

As for shiny areas and metalics, the advantage of a brush on is that you can use the matte varnish everywhere and then use a gloss varnish over the parts that you want to be shiny. I've found that metalics tend to look fine under Matte varnish, but WN also makes a Gloss brush-on that you can use if you want more shine.

When using it over something very shiny like dipped minis where you want to cut the shine, it sometimes dries just a hair less than matte, with a slight satin to it, but it seems to dry matt over flat paint jobs. The only other thing to worry about with any brush on varnish is the possibility of them smearing inks. Doesn't usually happen, but it's worth testing out first anytime you are dealing with acrylic inks and acrylic varnishes.

Thanks all for your help. Its been super insightful.

Keep in mind, although Dullcoat will take out any shine that is on the model, it is not a varnish. It will not stop chipping or paint wearing off.

I second Eilif, although I use Windsor and Newton Matt Varnish with UV protection, supposed to stop colour bleach and fades, and boy is it matt

Gundor2 wrote:
Keep in mind, although Dullcoat will take out any shine that is on the model, it is not a varnish. It will not stop chipping or paint wearing off.

Uhh... Yes it will. At least, as much as any varnish is liable to. Abrasion resistance is primarily what varnishes are about, for miniatures. Chips are more often a result of weak primer adhesion or deformation of the underlying materials beyond the elasticity of whatever they've been coated with. If any damage can be prevented by an acrylic varnish, it can also be prevented by a lacquer, with one exception - soaking in lacquer thinner.

I have recently fallen in love with Vallejo's varnishes. Their Matte Varnish goes on smooth and flat. I previously has sworn by Dullcote but even that tends to be inconsistent in terms of the final result.