Varnish and Paint - For an Airbrush

[Guest]

When I was a kid I was taught to use Varnish to create a matt/satin/gloss effect where I was unable to to get the exact paint.

For example, if you had a matt black and you needed gloss black just use matt black and a top coat of gloss varnish. Likewise you could turn a gloss colour to matt with a top coat of matt varnish.

Does the still apply today.

Why do I ask? Well 2 reasons.

1) I need a matt orange for some chaff dispensers. Im trying to use humbrol where possible and I own a gloss orange (no 18). In matt they do an Orange Lining which doesnt appear an exact shade match. Could I just use the Gloss I already own and apply a matt varnish over the top.

2) Its the old Airbrush thing. Im getting on really well with acrylics now. I need a Glossy Grey (no. 5) whch again is not available in Acrylic, only enamel. Could I get the matt acrylic equiv. ad spray a top coat of gloss varnish?

If the varnish trick works do I thin i the usual way. I thin down with water on a 2:1 basis as per humbrol instructions and getting on very well. In fact what I actually do is tip the paint from the plactic pot (12ml) into a new glass jar. Add 6ml water to the plastic pot and give it a damn good shake and then add that to the jar. (Being a hoarder I then wash out and keep the plastic pot, to use for mixing paints later). I then give the jar a damn good shake (I usually do this while watching TV and I find if I shake for the entire length of an advert break it works for me), label up the jar and pop away ready for use when I need it.

I find that 6ml if water added to 12ml of paint doubles the volume of paint (Its the old tonne of feathers and tonne of lead thing) and works for 99.99% of the paint.

Anyway, waffling now

Can I use varnish to change the finish of a paint.

Do I thin varnish down for airbrush use in the same way as normal paint.

[John]

The short answer is yes you can use varnish to change paints I watched this the other day and learnt a lot DVD - AFV Acrylic Techniques sorry my reply is a little short but I'm using my iPhone and it takes me ages to type everything but I'm sure someone else will give you a full answer

[Guest]

DVD - AFV Acrylic Techniques

Added to my shopping list. Might be a week or 2 till I get it though.

[Ian M]

As you may or may not have figured out I use Vallejo Acrylics most of the time. Apart from a gloss white and a gloss black every thing else is matt. You can either give it a top coat of varnish to get the lustre you need or you can add a medium into the mix. They do a gloss, satin and matt (go figure). Just add a few drops into the colour and you have every colour they make in all three finishes. Smart.

I tend to use the Gloss one most of all. I fine that just a drop or two gives a nice silky satin finish. More than 50% and ist getting quite near to glossy. HOWEVER, theres always a catch. It also makes the paint translucent. Not always a good thing. I know others that mix the Vallejo Varnish into the paint.

Hope thats some help.

Ian M

[stona]

I just spray the relevant varnish over the painted part/area. I too use the Vallejo varnishes (matt and satin) as I've never had any trouble with them. For gloss I use Klear.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

As above, varnish can be added to or used over paint to get the gloss/matt and not to forget, satin effect. That DVD for Acrylic is on my wish list to, got a very good review in a national modelling magazine.

[Guest]

Bit of an aside from the intial Q re varnishes.

However, if you want to make a gloss acryl matte, just get some Tamiya flat base, (X21 i think), it's a greyish looking gloopy stuff which mattes, (is that a word?) paint or clearcoat, also works with Klear.

As a rough guide the measurements I use are

FB to paint

30% = Dead flat

20% = Satin

10% = Semi Gloss

0% = Gloss, (well, duhhh)

I use a small syringe to get the ratios, something like a kiddie med syringe from the chemist would be fine or a medicine measuring cup, (which also make great paint mixing pots)