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Hello everyone. This is my first post here and it's a long one. Sorry about that.

I have a bit of an odd problem, but I also have the solution to it (sort of). I'm posting this because it's just so vexing that I want to know what you guys think of it. I will go through everything, trying to provide as much details as possible.

So, I started collecting warhammer miniatures a year and a half ago. My first army was Crimson Slaughter/World Eaters. The colors I used were basically mephiston red and Balthasar gold. No problems whatsoever. A few months ago Dark Imperium came out and I started having trouble with some colors. To name a few : rakarth flesh, screamer pink, the fang, zandri dust.

I didn't notice the problem right away, but after studying previously painted models, I noticed that the paint had retracted from some edges or corners. Those edges or corners were black (I use Chaos Black primer). It looks like a black edge highlight. Another thing I have noticed is that similar models have this issue in the exact same place. For instance, I painted the 3 inceptor models from dark imperium side by side (the fang, russ grey, fenrisian grey edge highlight). I came back after 2 hours and all of them had black edges at the back of their boots in exactly the same spots.

To prevent this, I started varnishing my models, but I still have to track down where the paint had retracted before I do so.

So what could be the causes?
BAD PRIMER : I really don't think so. I have gone through 3 cans of chaos black and the problems still persist. Also, I have bought some D&D pre-primed minis and the issue was present there too.

BAD PAINT: As I said, there are still some colors that do not have this issue. I painted a Plagueburst Crawler (death world forest and balthasar gold) last weekend and I had no problems. It's possible that some colors are better than others, but I really don't know.

HIGH HUMIDITY IN THE ROOM: This is a problem I am having in my household and there is nothing I can really do about it. If I don't constantly have both my ACs on and a dehumidifier on... It's gonna humid.

Yesterday I tried something new to combat this. I primed a Primaris Lieutenant and applied a coat of varnish over the primer. I proceeded to paint over it (space wolves color scheme) and 12 hours later it seems that the paint is not retracting from anywhere. It seems that this works.

So, to wrap this up. I would like to know two things :
1) What do you think of the issue with the paint withdrawing from the edges?
2) Are there any consequences to varnishing over the primer or can you think of any other solution?

Once again, sorry for the long post

Pics? Sounds more like chipping from usage. Model gets hit to hard object resulting in paint being chipped from edges. This is why people varnish models. It gives hard coat over paint job which prevents chipping.

I doubt its the primer, though high humidity can cause issues with not only the primer but any painting you do. Also GW paints tend to seperate and do odd things if left sitting, I highly reccomend shaking them up and making sure they are mixed well because their components seperate.

I think you could varnish over the primer if you want, the only real concern there is losing detailing so i'd keep it in a single thin layer.

It's not usage. The miniature is waiting to dry and the paint gets chipped.

https://imgur.com/BKK4R8b

Probably not the best picture, but this was a miniature that I was working on for a vew hours.

Notice the purity seals. I doubt that those had rubbed against something.

I've had some issues with this in the past and at first I was flummoxed. However, I noticed it most on warm days and found it even worse when my hand was feeling a bit greasy from sweating. I realised I was coating my model in the oils from my hands as I was trying to paint it. I've since started wiping down the model with a wet wipe before and after priming to remove any grease from putting the model together and other handling it. Washing my hands before a painting session and wearing a nitrile glove on my left hand, the one that is often supporting the miniature. Since doing this I've never had similar problems. (Also I've started using a matt primer which paint seems to love to stick to.)

to fix this existing problem minis, use a wet wipe or similar to remove any grease from the problem areas, if you have one apply a thin layer of matt varnish to the area, then repaint the area. The matt varnish may not be required but it worked a treat for me. I then seal with a gloss varnish then a satin one for a the finish, but this may be overkill =)

robertpas wrote:
It's not usage. The miniature is waiting to dry and the paint gets chipped.

https://imgur.com/BKK4R8b

Probably not the best picture, but this was a miniature that I was working on for a vew hours.

Notice the purity seals. I doubt that those had rubbed against something.

It sure looks like chipping, especially since it appears to be multiple layers coming off.

If it's happening to models you just painted, be aware that it takes a few days if not weeks for paints to reach their full strength cure. Prior to fully curing they'll be more prone to chipping.

Another thing might be oils off your hands, if you handle a model after priming it then some amount of oils from your finger tips get left on it which make subsequent layers more prone to being damaged and further handling after painting is more likely to rub paint off. That's part of the reason many people mount their models to old paint pots or corks or GW's new painting handle, so you don't have to hold the model while painting it, you hold the handle instead.

Another thing might be the primer, sometimes if you don't shake the can well enough and/or apply it in bad weather you can end up with an overly slick surface which subsequent layers won't stick as well as they should (though my bet is this prooobably isn't the main problem, it's worth checking none the less).

Lastly you can apply a varnish to toughen up the paint job after painting.

Thanks Moolet and AllSeeingSkink.

I think you might be right. Ever since Dark Imperium came out I wanted to step up my painting. As a result I stopped gluing the minis to their bases before painting them. As a result I had no base to hold on to while painting so the minis got greasy.

I had never even crossed my mind. Thanks for the help. Now I know how to prevent this in the future

 Moolet wrote:
I've had some issues with this in the past and at first I was flummoxed. However, I noticed it most on warm days and found it even worse when my hand was feeling a bit greasy from sweating. I realised I was coating my model in the oils from my hands as I was trying to paint it. I've since started wiping down the model with a wet wipe before and after priming to remove any grease from putting the model together and other handling it. Washing my hands before a painting session and wearing a nitrile glove on my left hand, the one that is often supporting the miniature. Since doing this I've never had similar problems. (Also I've started using a matt primer which paint seems to love to stick to.)

to fix this existing problem minis, use a wet wipe or similar to remove any grease from the problem areas, if you have one apply a thin layer of matt varnish to the area, then repaint the area. The matt varnish may not be required but it worked a treat for me. I then seal with a gloss varnish then a satin one for a the finish, but this may be overkill =)

I think is that. that happen to me.

Try dont touch so much the miniatures in the painting process, you can rubb the paint even Dry with your fingers at grab the miniature for change the position of view. Vallejo are so delicated in that aspect.

Good it looks like you've gotten it sorted! hope that does fix it, humidity is a beast to fight against (very humid here where I am as well, typically). Sometimes we just bump models too - but just to add a little to what AllSeeingSkink and others said, I would probably pin your models, such as in the bottom of one foot, stick them in a cork. Or, poster tack them to a pill bottle (filled with sand or other to weight it). And you can also wear gloves if it helps - which I do religiously with my metal models tbh, tho not so much with plastics.

Good luck I hope it works out for you!