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Too nervous to try and varnish my models, ruined 3.5 out of the first ten I did. Weather out here is super hot and super dry, not humid or anything, just blazing hot.

So I am wondering, do I really need to varnish them?

Is there a better way to spray on varnish to minimize frosting?

Using Krylon's Primer and the models that didn't get frosted look spectacular imo.

How long does the paint/wash on models last on unvarnished models?

Depends really on how well the primer set and how well the paint adhered to the primer, also the material used, metal will chip without a good varnish coat.

It also depends on use level. If you pull me out twice a week it might not be a bad idea to varnish. If you game twice a year and they sit in foam for the rest of that time, varnish might not be useful either.

Should last a long time without varnish.

I only use varnish to seal my airbrush work and then oil wash my models, then I revarnish in matte because I think satin and gloss look like sh*t.

Got an airbrush, vellajo do a great varnish.

So whats the best technique to apply spray on varnish? Little spurts like the videos or more of a start on the outside of the models and spray across the units in a line, kinda like the videos on using primer.

I use Future for my initial seal and then a mix of future / Vallejo matte to dull it just a little.

To seal them yes you do. You risk ruining your paint job if you don't.

Weather plays a roll on spray and what kind of spray.


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Zodiark wrote:
So whats the best technique to apply spray on varnish? Little spurts like the videos or more of a start on the outside of the models and spray across the units in a line, kinda like the videos on using primer.

Nice even strokes don't sit in one area.

Varnish protects your game models from handling.

If spray on isn't working for you, try a brush on varnish.

I use vallejo varnish through an airbrush but you can brush it on if you want - although if you're doing an entire army that would not be fun! A coat of gloss varnish can often get rid of (or at least minimise) any clouding/frosting and you can then re-apply the matt afterwards. An initial layer of gloss will also help protect your model better.

You can generally mitigate weather-related spray issues by changing your technique, without having to change products. If it's particularly hot and dry, the varnish is liable to frost because the solvent immediately starts evaporating, and quickly, once the atomized product leaves the nozzle. Spraying closer to the model (and moving the can more quickly, to avoid overloading it with the more concentrated spray pattern) should help the issue. As always, do some test sprays on scrap first to ensure it works before committing to your painted models.

Spraying in super hot dry weather is generally not going to work. The finish will dry before it hits the model, better to do your spraying in close to "room temperature" and humidity levels whenever possible.

Also, shaking the can vigorously for a full 3 to 4 minutes will help. Matte finish varnish is basically gloss varnish with a matte additive, if you don't have properly mixed varnish you may end up with bad results as the two components aren't properly mixed which means the "matte" additive will make the model looks "frosted".

You might be able to save the ones that went wrong by applying a gloss coat and then reapplying a matt over the top. It isn't a slam dunk, but it can help remove/reduce the frost effect.