Is Gloss-coat and Dull-coat really essential?

[laurence]

Hi, I\'ve nearly finished my first mini in over four years. I\'m pretty excited! I have some questions though. I don\'t have any Testors dull-coat or whatever brand. This is a display mini that\'s not intended to be gamed with. So, is it essential to coat it with some kinda protective spray? I remember on Allan C\'s DVD he says (I\'m pretty sure he says) he doesn\'t coat his minis after painting them. Also, I seem to remember the great Arjay saying that he\'d once just painted matte medium over a mini instead of dull-coating it. Is this also another option? I know that some people say that protective coating minis is a good way to get that \'pop\' but from memory, I remember preferring my minis before spraying on protective stuff. Although, I\'m really straining my memory banks to recollect that far back in time. Heheh...

I\'d really appreciate some feedback!

Thanks

 

[Ritual]

No, you don\'t need it! Depending on what sort of paints you use, you might not need to dull it down at all. I know my stuff usually is very matte without any extra dulling down. But, matte medium is indeed an option if you use inks or paint with a satin finish.

 

[airhead]

depends on the paint and how much handling you expect it to receive, how well it is packed to get to the exhibit and if you will ever show it in any other contest.

Vellajo Model colors have probably the least amount of binder of any of the standard modelers\' paints. They will rub off if you look at them too hard.

Game color and GW are about the same.
But by the time you\'ve thinned your paints, you are also thinning the amount of binders - unless you are using glazing medium, or something similar to thin your paints with.

How are you going to pack it to get it to the contest? Will it touch anything but the base? I\'ve seen boxes built with a threaded stud sticking up to thread inside the base so that nothing else can touch. But most of us pack the mini in tissue/stryo peanuts/etc. and the possibility exists to rub off the paint.

Then there is the actual contest. Most judges are smart enough at the major levels to know not to handle the mini. Some of the small venues are not that professional.

 

[Ritual]

He didn\'t mention a contest, so I assume it will just sit in a display cabinet at home and not get handled at all.

 

[MathewBaich]

Dullcoat has had some quality control issues with the last two cans I have bought and often ruins my work by giving it a slight satin finish that is distracting. I don\'t use it anymore as my paint is already dull enough like Ritual has but if you need to dull down your paint, just use a matte medium instead of spraying.

 

[squidders]

I prefer to have all my minis coated... as a safeguard.

Some artists flat ot refused and that\'s cool but it does mean I can\'t take them out much for fear of them being damaged.

Generally though, if they just sat in a cabinet, no need to coat them unless, as ritual said, they\'re too glossy.

 

[sg2009]

what does dullcote do to metallics ???

or any other colour

 

[Ritual]

Originally posted by sg2009
what does dullcote do to metallics ???

or any other colour

Makes it matte.

 

[mattsterbenz]

I use it on nearly every miniature. Even the little protection it offers is good for display pieces. If I need an area glossy I\'ll just varnish that part afterwards.

As far as dullcote on metallics: It does change them somewhat (other than just making it matte). It makes them less reflective. When using Mithril Silver as a final highlight, make sure it is blended perfectly. Mithril Silver gets super bright after spraying, while Chainmail and Boltgun get duller. Metallic areas that looked great prior to the varnish can end up looking rather rough.

That\'s why I prefer to use only one metallic paint (for the most part Chainmail) and shade with black. That way I don\'t encounter any reflection differences after varnishing.

-Matt

 

[Avelorn]

In the past 4 years I have never varnished a display piece. I have used Vallejo Model Colour as well and never had a chipping problem at all. For displaypieces it is just not necessary. Las time I tried varnish I disrupted so much of the painting I had carefully done. If you know how to handle models it is seldom a problem..

For gaming however.. on metal models it is something you will have to do. Plastic, not necessary at all.

If you want the paint to hold better do all your basework with GW Foundation paint that is on the other side of the spectrum that Airhead talks about. It is also possible to varnish at the basecoat level and then over paint.. the chipping won\'t show as much then I think but I haven\'t tried that... Lastly a good primer is something to think about, I saw a test somewhere on different primers, GW\'s rubs off far the easiest as it\'s not really a primer they say.

 

[laurence]

Coating minis...

Hi, I really appreciate the useful responses you guys have made in this thread! I\'m not intending to enter this mini in a competition. It\'s just going to be put in the display cabinet at my local hobby store. Hopefully the staff and customers won\'t handle it with their greasy hands. I do own some of the paint on Testors gloss-coat and dull-coat but am afraid to use it. Maybe I\'ll test some on the base first? Because of the climate and air pollution in the city I live, I just may have to put something over the paint. Every year this crazy weather from China hits and makes everything sweat with crazy moisture. I\'m worried that this will cause my model to form mold and other nasty stuff. Also the dust in the air over here is mad. You see this black soot on everything that hasn\'t been cleaned in a while. I\'ll either just leave it or be brave and paint some watered down Matte Medium over it once complete. Hopefully this will be today as I\'ve called in a sicky!! Wooohooo!!!

Thanks!

 

[Ritual]

Originally posted by mattsterbenz
As far as dullcote on metallics: It does change them somewhat (other than just making it matte). It makes them less reflective. When using Mithril Silver as a final highlight, make sure it is blended perfectly. Mithril Silver gets super bright after spraying, while Chainmail and Boltgun get duller. Metallic areas that looked great prior to the varnish can end up looking rather rough.

That\'s why I prefer to use only one metallic paint (for the most part Chainmail) and shade with black. That way I don\'t encounter any reflection differences after varnishing.

I usually paint everything but the metallics, then dullcoat, then paint metallics! That is, if I chose to use dullcoat at all...

 

[laurence]

To lacquer or not to lacquer?

Hi Ritual, thanks for your insights! I\'ve been a big fan of your mini-painting since joining this sight and wanted to ask you if the minis\' you post here are lacquered? Thanks!

 

[Ritual]

Thanks! Some of them are and some aren\'t. If I paint something on commission, that I will send through mail, I almost always use dullcoat to give at least some protection. All my Wyrd stuff, for instance, is dullcoated. But, a lot of my other recent stuff, like most of my Hasslefree minis, are not.

 

[mattsterbenz]

Originally posted by Ritual
I usually paint everything but the metallics, then dullcoat, then paint metallics! That is, if I chose to use dullcoat at all...

Smart! I\'ll have to do that next time I do metallics

-Matt