Protecting models with varnish and sealant

[FoxTrot.]

Hi all, I'm about to start painting an ultramarine force and was thinking about using a sealant or varnish to protect my miniatures. The majority of my time in this hobby is devoted to painting, and i've heard that using varnishes could effect the colour of different paints and change the overall texture which is why i'm a bit hesitant. 

 

I don't play many games and the models are being stored in one of the new GW cases (which isn't ideal for protection). But, i'm worried not so much about them being handled often or being constantly knocked, more so I don't want the paint to fade or deteriorate over time. So would it still be necessary to use varnish in order to preserve a paint job, or is it more for protecting models when playing games and transporting? Sorry if I rambled on a bit.

[BadgersinHills]

Varnish is more for protecting models while they're being handled. If you're concerned that the varnish might affect the colour of the model, paint up a spare shoulderpad or even some sprue and spray it with some varnish. 

 

Here's a video by Miniac that explains varnishing quite well. 

 

 

[Tyberos the Red Wake]

Models that don't see play aren't varnished for this very reason: the artists are generally painting them for display or competition, they won't be constantly touched, and the varnish will change the look of the paintjob, even if ever so slightly.

 

If you aren't a gamer and are just painting, I would say you usually don't need to varnish. However, GW's foam cases are kind of rub-happy with their storage method. I don't think the foam is abrasive or hard enough to damage your paintjob, but it's a consideration. Your paint won't discolor just from being exposed to air unless you put them on a windowsill in the sunlight for years. A lot of varnishes do protect from UV radiation if that's a concern.

 

If you end up deciding to varnish, just test it out on a painted piece of sprue or something to see if you like the effect. I use Army Painter Anti-Shine, it doesn't change the colors too much other than making it look matte and slightly dulling metallics, but it does make the models slightly rough and matte to the touch, which I actually prefer over smooth matte varnishes.

[DistroyA]

I've not noticed any difference in the colour after varnishing a mini. I could be lucky, or my perception of post varnish colour is off. Either way, I doubt it'll have much impact on the colour.

[Guiltysparc]

My experience has been that my plastic models don't need varnished.  They've been rubbed up a bit by KR foam trays and also hands (obviously) without any issues so far.  Metal models, well, the like to chip if you look at them to intensely, but i've had pretty good success using just a light coat of GW's purity seal spray to keep this from happening.

[FoxTrot.]

Thank you all for the replying, I might experiment with some varnishes and see how it goes, but from all your feedback it sounds like varnishes are more for models in constant use. 

[Gorthaur]

I personally hate varnishing, i'm trying to avoid using sprays and solvents as much as I can. It's bad enough I have to use primer that is toxic. But I really don't need varnish off gassing along with the primer too. (spray paint can continue to off gas for months or hell maybe even years.) Not only that but it dulls metallics, and flattens all of the colors. So you might have to go back and re highlight some areas or even water down a little gloss varnish and run it over the metallics.

[Tallarn Commander]

I agree that metal models in constant use really benefit from gloss varnish. I'm not a fan of varnish at all but I eventually started using it. I initially tried varnish back in 2000 and didn't like how it subtly changed my highlights so I didn't use any.

 

But I've been regularly using my metal Tallarns for 17 years. For many years I'd regularly touch up paint that had rubbed off my 17 metal IG squads. This got old fast.

 

In 2011 I varnished a squad on a whim (I was living in Mexico City and I noticed 40Kers there used it). A year later I noticed my varnished squad didn't need any paint repair! Now all my metal IG squads are varnished. I lose some of my highlights but I no longer have to bother repairing paint nicks.

[CCE1981]

A tip for that protective coat is to use clear Gloss coat first then clear matt coat. When your models become shinny it is time to redo the matt coat. It is easier to notice your models becommimg shinnier than it is to notice they became dull.