Varnish Finish in Figures 1/72.

[Jaques]

Hi , friends.

To the friends painters of the forum I ask for help:

After I finish painting my 1/72 figures, I just apply matte acrylic spray.
Considering the size of the 1/72 figures, is there any quality improvement if I first apply glossy varnish and then dry, apply matte, as with armored miniatures?

Regards.

[Bluefalchion]

I am sad to report that I do not do any of that.

Would it help?

[Wiking]

I never try a glossy or matte varnish on a figure at first.
A primer (now in a grey color) is my first use on a figure.
That makes figures of multiple parts (different plastic color) to a neutral, homogene one color figure.
And the second reason is that the following colors will stick more easy.

Varnish at first is unknowen to me.
For soft plastic figures I read a few times to use at first a layer of white glue. That will be the closest to your varnis question that I know. But I did not try that.

[Kostis Ornerakis]

The reason to apply a gloss varnish to a model is that the decals stick better to a glossy surface.
If we want to have an homogenus matt finish allover the figure we add a matt varnish and after that we add metallic (weapons, armor) and gloss paint(glasses), if needed.

[CPN]

Hi ,
Because of the use of my figures for wargames, I used the Vallejo polyurethane Matt varnish which I found great to protect them. As stated earlier on, I don't think figures would require glossy varnish before a Matt finish.
I hope this contributes to your overall question.
Happy weekend.
Cheers.
CPN

[Wiking]

Ups,
Jaques ask for varnishing AFTER the painting.

So as Kostis has mentioned. The glossy varnish on armored miniatures is to stop the silvering of the film surrounding the decal and it stick better to the surface. The most obvious are the national signs on the wings and fuselage for planes. After that dry varnish.

So there is no real reason to do first glossy varnish and after that dry varnish to a figure.
No decals, no glossy varnish is need.

Sometimes it happen that some of my figures get decals.
Small decals !
A brassard, a sign to the steel helmet.
I cut it as small as possible. No glossy varnish. Decal softener. Especial for the brassard.

Decals for shields (Vikings, Knights) I haven´t done that so don`t know, sorry.

Side note:
In the beginning years of serious modelling I do glossy varnish at last to the painted eyes.
But not for long. I did`t saw any improvement to the figure.

[Jaques]

Hi , friends.

Many thanks to all friends for the info.
I would experiment with recent painted figures with both types of varnish, which could have disastrous results.

Regards.

[Bluefalchion]

Hi , friends.

Many thanks to all friends for the info.
I would experiment with recent painted figures with both types of varnish, which could have disastrous results.

Regards.

That's the same for me. I can't find a figure I have painted that I don't mind ruining if the varnish does not work.

[PaulRPetri]

Hello Jaques, here is what I have done for many years. After I finish painting my figure I seal them with Future Floor Wax by Pledge, (USA). Once this is dry it leaves a very shinny figure. After I do the figure base I then spray everything with Testors Dull coat. This leaves a very flat figure which I like. Before this I used to coat my plastic figures with Minwax Tudor Satin furniture sealer, this is known as the "Dip" and follow the same procedure with the Dull Coat. I have had no problems at all with this method.
Hopes this helps,
Paul