Slight problems with matt varnish

[Routaporsas]

Hi there.

Most brush-on matt varnishes I have used tend to leave a bit patchy result or finish is not so even as I hoped. You don\'t really notice this if the underlying colors are rather light (for example most skin colors and even quite dark brown color such GW\'s scorched brown).
But black/really dark surface is the worst. Because after varnishing I can see those patches really easily, if the underlying color is black or some other really dark tone and if the mini has some quite wide and flat surfaces like some 40k dreadnought for example. I have dried both Vallejo game color and model color varnishes and Miniature paint\'s matt varnish.

I used GW purity seal couple years ago, but I didn\'t like it (it wasn\'t so realible) and changed to brush-on varnishes. However apparently it\'s quite difficult to get really even finish with brush on varnishes. So I you have any advices how to prevent or at least minimise this effect, I would like to hear those.

Of course I knew that it\'s a different thing to use spray that brush-on varnishes, but somehow I just didn\'t pay much attention to these patches or streaks. Maybe beceuse normally I use quite light colors, and I have never varnished my \"showcase\" minis. Or maybe because nowadays I more picky about the result.

Maybe I could try other labels. Or I could use satin varnish instead if I have to varnish some black or very dark surfases. Maybe that could work...

 

[SebastianRushworth]

What label do you use?

 

[krom1415]

I use Humbrol enamel satin brush on varnish for the first protective coat, then testors dullcote spray for matt finish.

This works on all my paints, ( which are GW and foundry ) however I would check on an old mini to make sure there is no reaction.

Hope this helps, PM me if you need any further help! and welcome to the forums.

 

[Routaporsas]

krom1415: Thanks!

Originally posted by SebastianRushworth
What label do you use?

I have both Vallejo Game Color and Model Color matt varnishes and Miniature paint\'s matt varnish. I have used mainly Game Color matt varnish.
I think that Vallejo\'s products are quite similar, and both are perhaps slightly better than MP\'s varnish. I also have Vallejo game color gloss varnish and satin (but it went bad).

 

[generulpoleaxe]

i only use brush on varnish when doing gems, after all they spray varnish has dried.

 

[Furyhound]

This is not good, I was planning on vallejo brush on matte varnish. Sprays can\'t be imported to my country...
You\'r saying it damages the model?
I mean - It\'s looks, which is what that matters

 

[SebastianRushworth]

I also only use brush-on varnish because I\'m afraid of ruining the figure with spray varnish. I think you should try some other matt brush-on varnishes, for example Masterson\'s Dullcote or Testor\'s Dullcote.

 

[Routaporsas]

Originally posted by Furyhound
This is not good, I was planning on vallejo brush on matte varnish. Sprays can\'t be imported to my country...
You\'r saying it damages the model?
I mean - It\'s looks, which is what that matters

Well like I said if you are using lots of lighter colors then you won\'t probably notice anything, even though IMO varnished models always look a little different than models that are not varnished.

But I just noticed now easily you can see those brush strokes when the varnish dries, or in anyway the result is not so smooth and even. And particularly if the surface is painted with black, you can see this very easily. Then again black is the kind of color that if you have for example black car you can see all kinds of dust and dirt really easily.
If your minis have only small areas that are really dark this may not be a problem (for example near black shading is some clothes). But I would say that for example varnishing Black Templars could be pain in the a$$.

I have thinned the varnish so that it\'s not too thick and it\'s a good idea to get a really good brush for varnishing. IMO Flat brush is rather good if you are varnishing dreadnoughts or something large like that. And I have tried to minimize unnecessary brush strokes in order to get smooth and even results.
I don\'t know if I have done something so wrong when varnishing, but I don\'t believe that you have to be a rocket scientist in order to varnish you minis with a brush. Maybe some matt varnishes just do that, I have not had change to test so many different matt varnishes.

Anyways you could buy one bottle and test if you like it. Vallejo bottles are not that expensive. I managed to produce couple rather even and smooth test pieces.

BTW. I heard that some fellow painters apply vallejo matt varnish with an airbrush, for airbrush is an excellent device to apply really smooth coats (or that\'s what they say). Even though those can be quite expensive.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

keep two brushes for varnishing only.
that way no paint residue in the ferrules will get mixed in whilst you are varnishing.

use a gloss varnish first and then when dry swap to testors brush on dullcote. if you swap brushes as well you will be avoiding any of the varnish residue from the other brand. over kill on safety realy but it\'s better than trashing the model.

the testors dullcoat will help sort out some of your problems with the darker colours. it\'s wierd how it does it, but in a lot of cases it does.

hope this helps.

 

[Furyhound]

I don\'t know if its really to the topic, well I think it is: Where do I get Testor\'s dull coat, links anyone?
(Didn\'t find it myself)

 

[generulpoleaxe]

horsing around sell it.

it works out cheaper to buy it from there ebay store.

http://www.horsingaround.com/acatalog/Paints___Sprays.html

or there is antenociti, great service but there postage can be a bit steep.

http://www.barrule.com/Workshop/products.html

 

[marineboy]

Thanks for that link, GPA, I keep loosing his URL, wish he\'d get brush-on Dullcote back in stock.

 

[Routaporsas]

Ok, thanks generulpoleaxe. I\'ll try that dullcote if I manage to get that.


...and yes it\'s a good idea to have separate varnishing-only brushes.

 

[zeromorph]

Seperate brushes for everything, I say.

I have seperate brushes for metallics, dark to light paints, inks and glazes.
It\'s the only way to make sure it\'s not paranoia.

On topic though............ I\'ve only ever used testor\'s spray on glosscote and dullcote, and I suppose that if the paint on ones are as good as the spray on, you can\'t go wrong really.