Brush Maintenance and Varnish

[Primarch]

Thanks for your help! I will try to get hold of that varnish.

By the way do all of you use varnish on your metal models?

Usually no, but I probably should. The models I do varnish get covered with slightly watered down PVA (white) glue. Its a lot cheaper, doesnt mist up and does a reasonable job of protecting the models.

[Admiral-Badruck]

I do not use varnish at all... that said I really should I like the gloss vanish because it protects well but it makes the models look like they are wet... and I really do not care for that look...

[me_in_japan]

I do try and varnish all of my models, but occasionally one or two slip past me.

fyi: gloss varnish is a lot tougher than matt varnish, and will protect your minis much better. I agree that the gloss look doesnt work well for most minis (tyranids being the exception in some cases), so as I mentioned before, the technique of using gloss first for protection then a thin layer of matt to de-gloss it will give you a well protected matt finish model.

The watered down PVA approach is one Ive never tried. Im kinda scared to, tbh. Does it not kill the colour? surely its not very hard? I mean, I can rub off a layer of undiluted PVA from a piece of plastic without even trying. Surely a thin layer of watered down stuff will just rub off in a coupla days, at least from the sticky outty parts of a model, no?

[Primarch]

The watered down PVA approach is one Ive never tried. Im kinda scared to, tbh. Does it not kill the colour? surely its not very hard? I mean, I can rub off a layer of undiluted PVA from a piece of plastic without even trying. Surely a thin layer of watered down stuff will just rub off in a coupla days, at least from the sticky outty parts of a model, no?

Actually its a little glossy but the colour hasn't noticably changed. Its not that hard, but it is kind of rubbery, which also helps to protect the model. Yes, if you try, you can rub it off, but you can also replace it very easily. At 100 yen for a bottle you can cover loads of models for a fraction of the cost. My Crimson Fists have been fine and I've had them for a while now. There are one or two small chips here and there, but I've knocked them pretty hard at times.

[me_in_japan]

your ImpFIsts are mostly plastic, yeah? How well does the glue protect metal models? Im just curious, here. Cost isnt really a factor, btw, as one bottle of most any varnish will do a whole army, pretty much.

[Primarch]

your ImpFIsts are mostly plastic, yeah? How well does the glue protect metal models? Im just curious, here. Cost isnt really a factor, btw, as one bottle of most any varnish will do a whole army, pretty much.

I haven't coated the plastics, only the metals.
And 1 bottle of varnish will cover 1 army, tis true, but I dont have one army.

[Admiral-Badruck]

I have try PVA it is not too bad... I am still happier to use a good varnish... I do not have as many models as Prime but I have a fair few..

[Seb]

I just tried coating a model with gloss varnish and then a layer of matt varnish.
I worked well and the gloss disappeared.
Thanks for the good advice.

[Spevna]

COD - cash on delivery? crazy ol' dave?

Was meant to be OCD mate but I ballsed it up.

[me_in_japan]

I just tried coating a model with gloss varnish and then a layer of matt varnish.
I worked well and the gloss disappeared.
Thanks for the good advice.

youre welcome. by the way - did you spray on either of them, or were they both brush on varnishes?