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after spending two weeks painting the new ork kommandos, i sprayed them with GW matte varnish. However, i did not shake the can enough and the result was horrible. the can sprayed out a white "flock" all over my models and destroyed the paint job.
So, if anyone has had the same thing happen to them, here's what you do. Cover them up with a diluted Gloss varnish. that will make the "flock" disapear and save your paint job.
fyi. the can can worked fine after a good shake, so it was all my fault. Also, always use a test figure first!!!!!!!!!

Ahh yes another fine result from a quality GW product. I still have yet to understand why none of the modeling forums have a sticky at the top of the forum, boldly warning people of the use of GW Matte varnish. I understand less why GW has not recalled this obviously faulty product.

If you are not in a completely moisture free enviroment, and even then I have seen it happen, you will "frost" your model.

the can can worked fine after a good shake, so it was all my fault. Also, always use a test figure first!!!!!!!!!

No actually I have had it happen after thoroughly shaking a can. The gloss varnish trick does fix them ok, but you can still see a grey on blacks and darker colors.

I would recomend that no one use this product.

Testors dull coat or nothing for me.

Yes, the rule here is: Never Ever Use GW Hobby Products. Period. They really suck. Krylon fixative, Testors Glosscote/Dullcote sprays or whatever non-GW specialty model/artists grade varnish is the way to go.

Tamiya also makes a "flat base" which, as the name suggests, when added to other paints or clear varnishes will make it matte. So one could use a bit of Future Floor Wash (or whatever liquid acrylic is available in your country), which is self leveling and creates a nice durable gloss protective coat, and add some flat base to it for a final matte finish. Plenty of alternatives to GW's overpriced, low quality crud.

While we're on hobby tips, Plastic Weld is a good alternative to GW's rather porridgey plastic glue. It makes much cleaner joins, and sets faster.

Posted" by="" nyarlathotep667="" 08/05/2006="" 7:15="" pm="">
Yes, the rule here is: Never Ever Use GW Hobby Products. Period. They really suck. Krylon fixative, Testors Glosscote/Dullcote sprays or whatever non-GW specialty model/artists grade varnish is the way to go.

Not exactly true.  GW spray primer is a good quality product which has pulled through for me even in high humidity and when I've given too thick of coats that would have ruined a model using crappy spray (like Armory).  Testors dullcote is indeed a superior product to GW matte varnish, but GW's gloss varnish is fine as long as you don't mind painting it on.  GW also makes nice glue, it's a gel which won't run and gets sticky enough to hold bonds quickly.

Did we add this warning btw to the sticky on top here?
im guessing we should.

Uh, I've been doing this for over 20 years. In that time used a wide range of products and my extensive experience has shown time and time again that GW's hobby supplies have been either terrible, or when rebranding a "quality" product, they charge 2-3 times as much as the original. For super glue, Zap-A-Gap's CA+ (gap filling) and CA (thin instant curing) glues knock the snot out of GW's crud. Even the generic "store branded" super glues available at fine hobby shops are better.

I have yet to use a GW hobby supply in the past 10 years that I was remotely satisfied with. GW's hobby supplies are for people that either don't know any better or are too lazy to make the trip to procure quality products at their local hobby shop (or online if none available locally, which in all but the most rural areas, I doubt). There is not a single GW Hobby Supply item I can not find a better (and often cheaper) alternative for. Not one.

We really do need put a warning out about GW's sprays. Every week someone is coming in and telling of their latest disaster using their premium priced substandard product.

"We really do need put a warning out about GW's sprays. Every week someone is coming in and telling of their latest disaster using their premium priced substandard product. "

ah yes. you can lead a horse to water, but it's hard as hell to drown them...i mean make them drink.

there's always going to be somebody out there who's convinced because it says GW, it's the best.

The same thing happened to me as well. A huge chunk of my Eldar models ended up frosted by that 'crap' GW calls matte varnish.


In a vane attempt to salvage some of up, I used Vellejo's paint on acryllic matt varnish. Not only did it seal the models, but it also removed that crappy frosted look. It's more time consuming handing painting varnish, but now they look like they are supposed to.

Posted By nyarlathotep667 08/05/2006 7:15 PM
Yes, the rule here is: Never Ever Use GW Hobby Products. Period. They really suck. Krylon fixative, Testors Glosscote/Dullcote sprays or whatever non-GW specialty model/artists grade varnish is the way to go.

Tamiya also makes a "flat base" which, as the name suggests, when added to other paints or clear varnishes will make it matte. So one could use a bit of Future Floor Wash (or whatever liquid acrylic is available in your country), which is self leveling and creates a nice durable gloss protective coat, and add some flat base to it for a final matte finish. Plenty of alternatives to GW's overpriced, low quality crud.

That should go to the top of the modeling FAQ. GW's hobby products are generally crap, and what isn't crappy is overpriced.