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.

I tried Google image but I was not able to find what I am looking for.

I wanted to seal my Tyranids into with a high gloss to make them look slimy. But a friend told me gloss does not look slimy it just looks like it is coated in ice or glue and recommended satin or semigloss (are they the same thing?)

Could anybody postsome pics of gloss vs. semigloss vs. satin on fleshy organic looking models (no metal armor) so I can get a feel for what each one looks like?

Thanks!

Gloss coat doesn't really look like ice or glue unless it's applied much too thick. It just makes the models look really shiny but not necessarily slimy looking. If you are going for slime you may have to add some semi-transparent medium of some sort (artists acrylic medium would work) and then gloss coat them after.

It's really hard to show in a pic since it really depends on the lighting and is far better seen as the model turns and picks up natural edge highlights and reflections as it moves. Different manufacturers also have different levels of gloss for each of the named steps. I have a can of Krylon craft acrylic satin spray that is shinier than Tremclad gloss clear.

Generally the order from shiniest to dullest is:
ultra/high gloss
gloss
semi-gloss
satin
matte/flat
ultra/extra matte/flat

The best thing to do is buy a couple different brands and try them out on extra bits or models. You can always recoat them with the other after to make them match anyway.

I put heavy high gloss coat on my nids, and they look slimy.

For an even better effect, you can dip them in clear polyurthane sealer (its messy....so might not want to).

I have used the liquitex high gloss finish, and airbrush it on in heavy layers.

And lutnit is quite correct - those types of finishes do not show well in pics.

Maybe pick some up at a hobby or art store, and try it on a test model. If you are ever in the north texas area or in the MN Twin cities, PM me, and I can see what I can do for getting some examples to you.

best of luck!

 LUTNIT wrote:
Different manufacturers also have different levels of gloss for each of the named steps. I have a can of Krylon craft acrylic satin spray that is shinier than Tremclad gloss clear. [...] The best thing to do is buy a couple different brands and try them out on extra bits or models. You can always recoat them with the other after to make them match anyway.

Solid advice. Not only are there naming discrepancies between brands (satin vs. semi-gloss, matte vs. flat), there are differences in what each brand's sheen for a given "level" is (Liquitex matte is more like satin, for other brands). I also agree that, if gloss varnishing models makes them look iced over or glue-soaked, you're doing it wrong (or intentionally going for the effect). Glossing models under normal circumstances simply makes them shiny - no appreciable "shell" buildup, at all.

If you plan to coat an entire army, I might suggest looking for the current incarnation of Future Floor Polish as a solid performer that adds a significant degree of bulk savings (one bottle will cover hundreds of models). It's a clear acrylic gloss coat intended for flooring, but works beautifully on models, as well, either as a gloss varnish or base/additive in DIY washes. It's very thin and contains a surfactant, meaning it brushes on easily and can be airbrushed neat, if you have that option. The finish is quite shiny and incredibly thin, while remaining pretty durable. If you pick the right stuff, it even smells nice. I couldn't find any of the names listed in the threads tracking the product's constant re-naming (it's changed over time and varies by country), so I went out on a limb and bought some Pledge (from S.C. Johnson) FloorCare Multi-Surface Squirt & Mop at the grocery store - white bottle, blue squirt top, lovely citrus scent. For the price of a pot of paint, I don't think I could've made a better hobby purchase.