When you have completed your model, all washed and muddy. Do you give a protective coat of, say matt varnish to protect it. If so; how do you do it without spoiling the weathering/washes etc?..Kenny
This is just how I feel about this: think of a normal car with a touch of rust somewhere: if you add an overal coat of gloss varnish, you effectively destroy the negative ‘cosmetic’ effect of the rust onto a perfect finish. I like my weathering to stand out, with rust, oil stains, dust standing out and ‘destroying’ the original pristine condition of the vehicle. I’m not a great fan of varnishes in general (plenty of disaster stories there!) but if I do use varnish, I do it prior the weathering and for two reasons: 1. even out the finish on the whole vehicle; 2. act as a barrier between types of paint that could potentialy attack each other.
I normally give a project a coat of clear gloss then add any decals or transfers. I put on another gloss coat to protect the markings then I do any washes I’m going to use. Once the wash is dry I put on a clear flat coat. After that I dry brush and add pastels etc. I expect you’ll get a different way of doing it from every member that responds[:)].
I generally follow the steps Steve outlined above up through putting on my initial wash. From that point, I’ve generally go in one of several directions depending on the vehicle, the base color, the environment, and the type and degree of weathering I’m attempting. Which ever way I go, I’ve developed techniques which usually result in all my weathering being sealed under Dullcoat. Once in a while, I’ll add just a touch of dust to the exterior after my last Dullcoat, but not always. In any case, there will only be this one light dusting outside a layer of paint when finished. I’ve personally never used a varnish on any model.
I generally follow the same steps as above. I use Testors Glosscote & Dullcote exclusively. Mainly because I’ve used them for years, but also because other brands are rare. The nearest decent hobby shop is over 50 miles away and I only get there an average of once a month, if I’m lucky. There is a Michael’s craft store nearby that sells some Testors paints and the two -cotes in spray cans.
After my built model is finished, it gets glosscoted, then the decals, then glossed again. Then washed, muddied, stained, chipped, rusted, dusted, etc. Then the final step for me is the dullcote. The spray can gives a nice, even coat of the stuff, and when dry, has a flat, dull effect…hence the name “Dullcote!” [:P]
-Sid
Kenny,
I always gave it a matte finish using Krylon Matte Finish. You can find it in any Ace Hardware store.
You just sray them. I used them in all my tanks, great finish.
Sid, I hear you, I used to visit my friend in Logan, Utah.
When the blizzard came, basically there is no way out of the village.
Ben
I use testors mainly because it is the most available. I put on a good, even coat or two of dullcoat after I put down my pastel chalks at the end of my finishing process.
Me, I guess I am different. I worry that the more layers that are applied, the less crisp the details become. I build and paint the kit in stages. Some sub assemblies must be painted before the kit is completly built. I stencil/paint my own markings on the vehicle so there is no need of the gloss/dull coat.I then apply any washes and finish with pastels (I plan on trying the MIG pigments). I then stain a wooden plaque with mahagney and apply three coats of spar varnish, lightly sanding between coats. Then the model is mounted on the plaque. Then I use a 1/18 die cast car display case cover to protect the model and plaque.
I tend to stay away from overall sealants of any kind. I have started using oil washes with fine paint brushes, so I’m not too concerned with a glossy finish for a good wash. I tend to give all vehicles an acrylic filter so that helps the wash. Also, I’ve started applying pastel chalks and pigment powders using acrylic or enamel thinner, and that seems to help them adhere. Most of my dust coats are sprayed on in this way. Personally, I’ve found that any matte coat does dull down my weathering.