Testors dullcote vs GW Matte Varnish

[Ovus The Peon]

Most here seem to prefer testors dullcote. I use dullcote because I just happen to have it around.

Is there any other compelling reason to pick it over GW Matte?

 

[wightzombie]

probably because

Most here seem to prefer testors dullcote.

since i was doing freehand art with pencils i actually had some testors around and i had bout some GW coat too. GW coat is perfectly fine for mass armies etc but when you really want to protect a piece use testors as it matte\'s better with many layers. i still actually use my leftover can of GW coat till it runs out because it was perfectly fine for me. but mmore discerning painters aka good ones prolly dont like screwing around and lay it on thick with testors. also in a topic just south of here someone mentioned applying many thin layers instead of going for a couple heavy coats.

 

[Shroud]

For some reason when I try to use multiple coats of the Testors, the finish turns satiny-glossy....

 

[paintwidow]

I got the satiny look with Testors too, but it only happened to me once. My poor Wolfen Vestal....but it was really humid when I did it. I\'m thinking this can affect things somewhat....

 

[wightzombie]

i never thought about air conditions etc. this is prolly very different in the UK. its kinda dry here but the humidity is average mostly but i do have a couple fans on with a air purifier. maybe work is a better place to coat minis with a AC. cept all the wierd stares or the \"what the hell is that smell?\" look.

 

[finn17]

I\'m no expert but...

IMO humidity has a major effect as does temp if it is markedly different from normal (whatever that might be).

Trick I found useful was to ensure varnish and model were in the same environment for several hours before spraying. If you think about it, it is easy to take a mini off your windowsill, fetch your can of varnish from shed, garage or basement and spray away. Temperature difference however, is probably in the range of 30-40 degrees. This does not make for a harmonious union.

I think varnishing is an esoteric art in it\'s own right. Perhaps as this hobby develops specialists will emerge, a bit like anaesthetists emerged from the medical profession as the need became recognised. Sounds crazy, but comic artists still use letterers, and you\'d think if you can draw that well you could cope with the alphabet...???

 

[Jericho]

Well the only varnish I have right now is the old GW varnish (not so old that it\'s Purity Seal with the old label though), and have not bought their Purity Seal yet. PS is a great product but I\'m really liking the flat varnish on most of the stuff I\'ve been doing lately. A lot more cloth than armor... armor looks good with the slightly glossier feel I think, which means I should buy Purity Seal for that kind of model. Makes the hilights pop a bit more, which works for sharp edged materials.

As for sray technique... I just do it in the basement here since I don\'t like going outside Just kidding... anyway I set the fig down usually on the spray can lid and hold the can 18\" away and tappa-tappa-tappa on the nozzle to get light coats on the model. Turn it around, do again, turn it around and hit from underneath this time, and then hit the other side from underneath. Wait a while, and come back and do it again for good protection.

The quick bursts of varnish have kept me from getting \"frosty\" or \"glassy\" varnish jobs for quite a while now. Both seem to occur when you put too much on at once.

 

[Trevor]

I find the GW one to be more of a satin finish, especially over a gloss varnish even with multiple coats.

I bought a Helmar cyrstal Kote gloss varnish but that seems to slightly craze the paint initially although it seems to dry OK. So I just got some testors glosscote, hopefully that will be better, of course they didn\'t have the dullcote so I\'ve got the humbrol matt instead, I\'ll let you know if its any better than the GW stuff.

 

[Malcolm]

I\'ve always found that Humbrol Matt Enamel varnish works well. On the other hand, it\'s mainly 1/300th scale SF armour that I\'ve painted (both befor eand after picking up painting again after my multi-year hiatus) and I find it gives a nice effect on the vehicles. Although, I\'ve never actually used GW stuff, so I don\'t suppose I can really offer any kind of useful comparison.

Cheers
Malc