Protecting finished minis with gloss and matt varnish together

[RuneBrush]

Daler Rowney Soluable Matt Varnish from an airbrush - 4 parts varnish to 1 part white spirit and sprayed 15~20 psi. I've never had it not give me a flat finish.

 

[dnanoodle]

Is it safe to use varnish to protect coats of paint before the model is finished? Say, halfway through. I have been finding that the paint I airbrush on rubs off and chips while I work so that I lose some quality by the time I'm done. I'd like to preserve the airbrushed coats so they don't get messed up while I work on the later stages of the mini.

 

[Einion]

Is it safe to use varnish to protect coats of paint before the model is finished? Say, halfway through.

It's safe or 'safe' depending on what you use to some extent. Lots of modellers use intermediate varnish coats to protect delicate paintwork from later paint effects, as well as to provide a good surface for applying decals.

I have been finding that the paint I airbrush on rubs off and chips while I work...

Easy solution: don't handle mini during painting! There are a few commercial holders available (from $ to $$) but you can cobble together a homemade jobbie for very little, if you have some of the components on hand possible for nothing - the cheapest option is a wine cork stuck into the end of a piece of fax tub.

Einion

 

[RuneBrush]

It's safe or 'safe' depending on what you use to some extent. Lots of modellers use intermediate varnish coats to protect delicate paintwork from later paint effects, as well as to provide a good surface for applying decals.

I find that some colours (brown and red) will absorb finger grease if you touch them so these will often receive a coat of matt varnish once done. I will also gloss varnish in order to apply some weathering techniques such as oil weathering or applying pigments.

Easy solution: don't handle mini during painting! There are a few commercial holders available (from $ to $$) but you can cobble together a homemade jobbie for very little, if you have some of the components on hand possible for nothing - the cheapest option is a wine cork stuck into the end of a piece of fax tub.

Double-sided tape on a wooden baton or bluetacked onto a paint pot are common ones too for single normal sized mini's. Larger stuff can have a long pin inserted and then held in a pin-vice (if you search for a watchmakers pin-vice you can pick them up for a few quid)

 

[plonka2000]

Has anyone used the army painter anti shine? Is it purely just a matte coat or does it have any protective qualities as well? Does it work?

Cheers LinZ

It seems as though nobody has answered this particular question, which I was also hoping for an answer.
As it is, I bought a can of this very stuff yesterday to try it out, as it is quite easily accessible where I am.

Going to test it out (Hopefully this weekend but no promises) and will try to put a pic up.

Is it possible that others could upload pics of varnished models or possibly provide links?

 

[Jbickley00]

I use golden matte varnish ( not the medium) and it works well. The trade off between the water based and the msa is not worth the extra hassle for the msa..so I just shoot the water based through the airbrush. Critically MEDIUM is NOT VARNISH, and using a medium instead of a varnish will disappoint. Golden MSA comes in cans (which must be shaken two minutes or more -TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY) and are not cheap. A much better solution is to invest in an airbrush, a compressor, and Golden water based varnish. In the long run you will still save money, and get much better finishes, and oh- you get an airbrush, which can be used for other things.

 

[moetle]

Quote "Has anyone used the army painter anti shine? Is it purely just a matte coat or does it have any protective qualities as well? Does it work?"

I've used the army painters anti shine. Its a protective matte coat and i think it works well. You will still have to watch the humidity problems though.

Moe

 

[Flow]

Double-sided tape on a wooden baton or bluetacked onto a paint pot are common ones too for single normal sized mini's. Larger stuff can have a long pin inserted and then held in a pin-vice (if you search for a watchmakers pin-vice you can pick them up for a few quid)

I've found gluing the feets of the minis to empty water bottles really does the trick. Once attached, ou can easlily turn and paint the mini at whim. Once you are done, it just pops right off!