Varnish question...

[Torn blue sky]

Right, so here's the deal. I'm finishing up an Iron Warriors Dred for a client. What I need to know is this;
If I spray it with dullcote and it goes a bit wrong, would it be possible to restore the metallics to their former glory by using satin or gloss varnish? To be honest, i'm really just hoping I won't have to try and mask all the matt parts....That would be a HUGE pain in the backside =( Any other tips etc would be appreciated! Thankayou pleash!

ED: I'd thought about just not varnishing it, but even though it's a higher standard piece, I think he may still want to game with it. The paint seems to rub off with excessive handling so leaving it isn't really an option.

 

[kathrynloch]

Yes. It works. Use the brush on acrylic gloss varnish and you're good to go.

 

[Torn blue sky]

I don't got none of that or I woulda just done that haha! Was actually pondering if I could spray Dullcote on something and quickly brush it on before it dries...

 

[kathrynloch]

If you brush anything on before it dries you'll have a mess. And this is just the brush on acrylic gloss that you can pick up at any craft store. It's not like it's super secret gold label bottle or anything.

 

[Einion]

Was actually pondering if I could spray Dullcote on something and quickly brush it on before it dries...

Brush it off I presume you meant to type?

If that is what you were asking, no, pretty sure you won't be able to do that... without removing the metallic paint that is (Dullcote being a 'hot' overcoat).

Einion

 

[RuneBrush]

You could mask off the areas you wish to keep as "natural" and then varnish. One thing I would say is that dullcoat on it's own doesn't offer masses of protection for gaming purposes. Generally people gloss varnish to provide a protective cover and then matt varnish to remove the shine.

 

[dogfacedboy uk1]

everytime i have varnished something it simply turns the paint runny and does some awesome automatic wet blending technique for me.....

dfb

 

[Torn blue sky]

Nah I meant brushing the dullcote on, Einion. Like spraying some Dullcote on a bit of spare plastic (say a blister outer packet) then brushing it on to the mini in parts before the varnish dries up. Having just told me it's a "hot" varnish, however, i'm not entirely sure that's be a good idea at all =/ Reckon the best bet might actually be hard varnishing the whole thing then masking it for dullcote. I don't have a heap of time to source some brush on Matt, unfortunately, but it'll be something i'll be picking up just for such a future occasion!
I had noticed the same effect on some of my stuff with varnish, DFB! Can't say it's entirely unpleasant haha. Wondered how that worked but I think Einion has inadvertently just told me. I actually had no idea varnish could do that. I R n00b.

Cheers peeps! Most helpful.

 

[MrPickles]

i dont use varnish but i dont see why it would ruin your metallics. it would remove the shine off gemstones and such if youve glossed them.

you could ask the customer what he would prefer.

also i heard army painter matte varnish is the best. just as good as dullcoat, better value, etc.

 

[kathrynloch]

i dont use varnish but i dont see why it would ruin your metallics. it would remove the shine off gemstones and such if youve glossed them.

you could ask the customer what he would prefer.

also i heard army painter matte varnish is the best. just as good as dullcoat, better value, etc.

Dullcote takes metallics down quite a bit - they can really lose their shine. I seal my metallic pigments with it and if I'm lucky I can get about three layers before they go completely flat. Typically I use dullcote to seal, then go back and hit the shiny spots with brush on gloss. Or as Runebrush said, apply dullcote over gloss sealer because the gloss is better protection and the dullcote knocks down the shine.

As to the army painter, I know one person who would vehemently disagree with you since it kinda shot his GD entry when it went bad - and he's had been loyal to the brand for a couple of years.

Any varnish can go bad or you can get a bad can now and then and when the stuff goes south it can get ugly really quick.

 

[MrPickles]

Dullcote takes metallics down quite a bit - they can really lose their shine. I seal my metallic pigments with it and if I'm lucky I can get about three layers before they go completely flat. Typically I use dullcote to seal, then go back and hit the shiny spots with brush on gloss. Or as Runebrush said, apply dullcote over gloss sealer because the gloss is better protection and the dullcote knocks down the shine.

As to the army painter, I know one person who would vehemently disagree with you since it kinda shot his GD entry when it went bad - and he's had been loyal to the brand for a couple of years.

Any varnish can go bad or you can get a bad can now and then and when the stuff goes south it can get ugly really quick.

kind of his own fault isnt it?
whenever i see top display quality level work up for auction it usually says "varnish at your own risk".

 

[kathrynloch]

kind of his own fault isnt it?
whenever i see top display quality level work up for auction it usually says "varnish at your own risk".

No. Not really.

Of course you can watch the expensive paint job discolor over time due to air contaminants unless hermetically sealed in a display case.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Dullcote takes metallics down quite a bit - they can really lose their shine. I seal my metallic pigments with it and if I'm lucky I can get about three layers before they go completely flat. Typically I use dullcote to seal, then go back and hit the shiny spots with brush on gloss. Or as Runebrush said, apply dullcote over gloss sealer because the gloss is better protection and the dullcote knocks down the shine.

QFT.
Dullcoate really does knock Metallics "Down", In order to bring stuff back up to 'shiney' I've used Vallejo Gloss Varnish ONCE the Dulloate is well and truely dry.
Works well over Gem stones, and can bring back the sheen to metallics. (GW's varnish doesn't flow as well).
Due to the reflectivity index of Dullcoate against a High Gloss varnish, I suspect that our brains/eye interpret the gloss as being brighter, as photography (well mine anyhow) doesn't seem to show the same variance.