discussion What varnish to use....

[Peej]

I am part way of putting the decals on my 1/32 Mosquito and I have decided to give it a coat of matt varnish to finish it off. What would you guys suggest as I have never done this. I will probably be airbrushing so a non/low odour would be preferable. Thanks in advance.

Paul

 

[Guest]

Paul . the best mat varnish I ve found is by AK, ULTRA MATTE. I wanted one that was matt, and this fitted the bill .
I would advise really shaking before use, mine is a little old now so I add some flow improver and a touch of thinners. All so use a fairly big needle and have a practice first. It does give a good finish.



Hope this is of some help.

 

[Peej]

Thanks John.

 

[stillp]

I use Winsor & Newton Galeria matt, from The Range at £8 for a biggish (250ml?) bottle. Sprays fine straight from the bottle through a 0.2mm needle at 15 - 20 psi.
Pete

 

[Mr Bowcat]

+1 for W&N Galeria. I use both the gloss and the matt after having tried lots of other makes, and find it works the best for me.

 

[AlanG]

I use Vallejo Matt and Hannants Matt varnishes. Find they are everything i'll ever need

 

[Guest]

I haven't used many but I've found Vallejo to do everything I need too. It takes a couple of days to really harden up and lose that soft, almost suede like feeling, but after that it seems fine.

 

[Peej]

Thanks everyone. Got plenty to go at.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Just one more....I’ve had great results with Tamiya Matt varnish diluted with Mr Colour levelling thinner and applied with an airbrush.....nicely Matt finish and no frosting at all.....

 

[Guest]

Vallejo is the best matt varnish I have come across.

But not the acrylic as popular but the Acrylic Polyurethene. This gives
a much better finish than the just acrylic.

Laurie

 

[Guest]

Careful with a Tamiya if over a water based acrylic as it will it will soften the water based acrylic.

How do I know that.

Laurie

 

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Laurie
Had that with Testors but never with Tamiya. Might be because I use Mr color thinner rather than Tamiya thinner.......

 

[Guest]

Hi Tim

I used Tamiya semi gloss over a touch up in Vallejo a few weeks back. It
just crucified the Vallejo but left obviously the Tamiya in place. But I
do use Tamiya 20a thinners to thin about 25%.

Also as this had been a touch up it may not have had more than a few days to cure.

Have a rule, after reading so many disasters the same Manufacturer over the same
manufacturer.

 

[Guest]

Should have added. Water based products over laquer type OK.

Vice versa disaster darling.

Laurie

 

[Peej]

I gave it a coat of klear before adding the decals, should I give it another coat of klear before varnishing?

 

[Guest]

I gave it a coat of klear before adding the decals, should I give it another coat of klear before varnishing?

I use this formula Peej

1. Before decals I use Aclad 11! Laquer Clear Gloss Clear om Tamiya. (note not on waterbased acrylics)
2. After decals before any weathering to seal decals I give another coat.
3. After weathering I then use Vallejo Polystyrene/acrylic matt.

Assume you use a water based paint PeeJ
Klear is a form of varnish so use on stage 1 & 2 above. On 3 use a water based varnish of you choice.

Having used Klear an obvious dis-advantage it is not as robust as water based varnish by Vallejo & others.

Hope this helps. In the end it is what you find best. Golden rule lacquer form paints not on acrylics.

Laurie