I've been thinking about applying some matte varnish on my miniatures but I can't decide on it. can you guys show me some photos of miniatures before and after varnishing?

Unvarnished



Varnished with vallejo matt varnish



This is under pretty stark lighting, so it is glaring a fair bit.

Matt varnish is essential if you want to use your models in a game. It will help protect the paintwork from chips. And you can see in TheAvenger's model, it adds some depth to the colour.

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Dagster

It's well worth it; I hesitated for a long time, because I was worried of the shininess, but it's made a huge difference to the long-term quality of my paint jobs, and the coat of varnish itself is not really noticeable on a day-to-day basis in normal lighting, even when varnished and unvarnished models are standing next to each other. It also gives models a different 'texture', which inspires greater confidence when you're gaming.

I use Vallejo Matt varnish, like theavenger does above. I'd recommend it unhesitatingly (and no, I don't work for them!).

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Sons of Gondor is here! www.thepalantir.org

Do you guys varnish all your completed models?
So far iv just been doing my metals and not plastics because I thought they would be tough enough without. Would you recommend varnishing them too?

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Veni Vidi Vici

So far I have not had trouble with plastic figures, and thus have not varnished them. But if I do start having troubles I will definitely varnish them right away.

Echoing southdunedain, I've been hesitant to use varnishing for a long long time. However, seeing those comparison pictures at the start of this thread have made me consider at least testing it sometime soon. Thank you avenger for the pics and thank you farinal for creating the thread

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Soon the Dark Lord Knighty shall have all he needs to cover the lands in an eevee-related darkness...

You're welcome. Can we got some more photos ?

I dip mine in Future and then spray them with Kryolon Matte and if still shiney with Testors Dull-cote. Makes for an incredibly hard and durable finish.

Jimmy

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Lost Pict

http://sfdfsfd.wordpress.com/

Personally, i consider varnishing a must, and will always varnish a model, after i've finished painting it and basing it.

It's really important, especially for metallic models or if you move your models a lot(going to toyrneys etc)

Mostly i use vallejo or army painter's matt varnish, i recommend using the sprays too, if you have just finished painting a warband for example, but they can be a bit tricky.

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"But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow."

I know there is a great rep for the Vallejo varnish and as I've used their products off and on for decades of modeling I will say it's probably among the best dedicated one available. But I personally use the Krylon Matt spray from Walmart. Two coats (with good try time in between) makes a very solid protective finish for gaming while eliminating nearly all shine on the model. And the cost is much cheaper.

When I first got started a friend suggested a gloss coat first (they are generally thicker and therefore more protective) followed by multiple dull coats. It does work well and my early models still look today as they did then even after years of play. But I found it took so many coats of dull to eliminate the mega-shine of the gloss that it wasn't worth it to me.

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Wait ye the finish! The fight is not yours.
Beowulf

http://TacticsInMiniature.com