Hello all. Long time lurker and first time post from someone just getting back into models after a 35 year break. I am sure this has been asked a 1000 times over the years, but I was wondering of someone could point me to a How-To article/video on varnishing/sealing aircraft models. I never spent the time to do this when I was a teenager, but would like to do so now and I feel like I have a million questions and sort of don't know where to start. Thanks in advance.
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First things first, welcome!
from someone who came outta the shadows just last month as well!
I know folks will be glad to meet you, so if you haven't yet, post a howdy-do in the introductions thread.
I think the consensus here is that the best place start is to start a-building and a-posting!
It shouldn't be long before you get an actual answer re. varnishing...
from someone who came outta the shadows just last month as well!
I know folks will be glad to meet you, so if you haven't yet, post a howdy-do in the introductions thread.
I think the consensus here is that the best place start is to start a-building and a-posting!
It shouldn't be long before you get an actual answer re. varnishing...
It kind of depends what type of paint you are using. I use lacquer, so a final coat of gloss or flat clear lacquer locks everything down. If you are using acrylic paint, you will need to use an acrylic varnish. Aqua Gloss, Vallejo, etc. I find those a little tricky to get a nice even gloss without runs, but it certainly can be done. Don't build it up too thick or it tends to yellow.
Jakko
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I just about never bother with varnish on anything, except if it's to change the glossiness of the model — like to make it gloss if it's matt but shouldn't be. Other than that, I generally consider varnish to be just one more thing that can go wrong.
I didn't realize that your couldn't mix types. Good to know. I am a novice. I am using Tamiya acrylics so I guess that means I need an acrylic varnish. Although on my F-117 I used just regular Rustoleum Flat Black rattle can house paint. That might not be correct either.
That is interesting. I guess I saw so many amazing examples of models and the person always sems to indicates what varnish they used. I get that the varnish doesn't make up for a cruddy paint job, but I also want to protect the decals as well. I have several kits that are over 30 years old and was trying to protect as best as I could.
Thanks for the welcome BarleyBop.
This is good to know. Thanks for the tip.
Jim62
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Tamiya makes a clear coat and a flat coat if you just want to try those. I use a pledge floor care gloss product you can't buy anymore but you can also use a product called Quickshine I'm sure you can find a demo of someone using it on Youtube. For a flat coat I use AK ultra matte varnish. You put down the gloss coat before decals, it helps eliminate silvering. Then finish up with a flat coat. I use Tamiya paints as well and this all works well on them. Here is a video to watch the guy brushes this on but I spray it and it works well.
lacrosse dad
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I learned this the hard/easy way....built a Tamiya F-16 and the varnish I used ate the acrylics in a way I just pulled off the paint to the plastic.....to a point that it's didn't look like I had even painted it...just formed gum strip and it came off clean.
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