Do you clear coat your model to finish?

[salty]

Hi All,

I’m about to finish my first model. May be a silly question but I could not see a definite guidance on the internet.
Do you apply a Matt coat to seal all painting and weathering in when you finish a model?

Thanks!

[AlanG]

Sealing in the paint/weathering is up to you what you want to use as to the finish you want. Most of my builds have a final seal of either satin or matt. If i wanted a brand new look then i would use gloss.

I use a gloss seal before i place down decals so i can minimise the chances of silvering under the decal. After that i use my matt/satin finishes so my weathering has something to 'bite' onto

[stillp]

Do you apply a Matt coat to seal all painting and weathering in when you finish a model?

Yes, Winsor & Newton Galeria matt.
Pete

[stona]

I do, usually a satin or matt coat, depending on the subject.

[Dave Ward]

The answer is yes - generally! A coat of matt varnish flattens out all the various surface textures left by different paints/weathering to give an even finish. I also sometimes use a slight paint 'tint' in the final coat to give a dusty effect. - An exception is overall gloss metal finishes on aircraft, varnish can really mess them up, so either experiment to see how it goes, or leave it!
Dave

[Guest]

Depends on the subject.

At the moment building airliners very little weathering & they tend in the real to look glossy.

However with a model, for me, glossy looks over the top. So a satin is what I go for.

For miltary aircraft they are in the real very matt as part of the camouflage. Think also if effects (weathering) has been applied a satin or gloss would take away some of that it would not, for me, look right.

Good idea to have a coat of varnish which ever type as it does make it easier to clean the model.

Best matt I have found is Vallejo Acrylic Polyurethene (not acrylic or polyurethene).

Often if I am not sure I have an A4 plasti card & experiment. Colours, varnishes over colours etc. Also effects testing differrent teachniques including the effect of changing the PSI. etc. One side of the card I keep with the experiments.

Laurie

[dave]

I use some, either Matt or Satin, normally a slight satin. Depending on the varnish some Matts are too Matt for my liking

[salty]

Thanks everyone!

I ended up applying a flat coat and hopefully I can share the photos of the finished model on the forum tomorrow

Based on some of the suggestions you’ve shared I can see even clear coating can be a complex topic to explore if you have an airbrush.
I’m very tempted to buy one as it seems to be such a versatile tool.

For now I’m using mr hobby top coat sprays which I guess is ok but not as nice as I can see YouTube in terms of coverage of the clear coat.

Thanks!

[Guest]

I generally don’t, except for wargames models — those get a coat of varnish to help them stand up to handling.

Display models, though, I only vanish if I need to for the effect I’m after. For example, if I’ve used gloss paint for some reason, but the model needs to be matt. Otherwise, I don’t really see the use of it, and actually, feel that varnish is one of those things that can too easily go wrong.

[Tim Marlow]

I varnish mine simply to harmonise the finish over the decals with the paintwork. I prefer aircraft in semi Matt rather than full Matt, but military vehicles in full Matt. Cars and bikes are finished in gloss. To be honest, I find Tamiya varnish works fine through an airbrush, but certainly wouldn’t brush paint with it.....if you need to brush paint I find artists varnishes are the most reliable.