I use vallejo satin and mat varnsih, both ordered from Swedish miniature-shop Game maniacs.

I use mat on regular surfaces and satin when I want some shine. I find that they work very nicely. The only concern is not to use to much! I (try to) do several thin coates so that it doesn't clog into small white dots.

I have used the mat varnsih on 50+ models and I still have about half of the pot left. Worth the cash. :yes:

 

Do you use spray cans or just paint?

Also if you paint it on, do you thin it or just take it from the bottle?

Thanks man

 

I use normal paitn from the bottle. As always I use a watery brush when I paint so i guess it's a little thinned.

The models in my album have been given a healthy coat of mat varnish. check 'em out.
http://s21.photobucket.com/albums/b269/MightyCamel/Warhammer/

 

Ok thanks. As I sad I used the satin varnish and I didn’t see any different from the model I hadn’t put varnish on.

I don’t know if this is because I had a thin layer or if most of my models look a little glossy after they are painted.

Have you tried to paint matte over the satin? I was thinking about varnish all my models with satin and if some of them got glossy maybe I can recover it with matt...

 

That's a quite common method. Satin is said to protect better but is more shiny. You can use matt over to kill the shine then.

Glad to be of assistance.

 

I agree the matte is a better choice for the top layer. I use 2 things Krylon crystal clear non-yellowing satin varnish (which does tend to be a bit on the shinier side - though not anywhere near a gloss varnish) and then I use the dullcote.

I also have heard that the glossier the finish the more it will protect hence the reason I first do the satin followed by the flat matte varnish.

Hope this helps a little. I haven't used the vallejo varnished so I don't know their exact results... but looks like you are on the right path. I wouldn't thin the varnished too much.

Cheers,

-Mike

 

ok thanks. I have never bother to use varnish before. I have never used my eldar in battle and my old fantasy models was a bit ugly so I didn’t varnish them eider.

Also I think the time will soon come when I have to use varnish...

 

It's better to varnish then not doing it!