A short question about varnish

[slugbalancer]

Winsor and Newton Galeria Matt varnish for me.  Two coats brushed on 24 hours apart does the job.

[chrishanley]

I also use and recommend Daler-Rowney Soluble Varnish Matt. 
Having in the past tried numerous varnishes with mixed results, I found D_R soluble Matt to be the most reliable and I have used it for years without ever having any problem.  In the winter I would recommend gently warming the bottle by popping the bottle into your pocket for about an hour (with the top screwed on tight).  The good stuff settles at the bottom of the bottle and it takes an age to shake it into suspension when it is cold.   The only down side is that you need to wash your brush out in white spirit, but that just reminds you of the old Humbrol days.
I have never tried Windsor & Newton Galeria which I am sure is very good judging by the recommendations, but do not use the W&N OIL Colour Artists' Matt Varnish, because it isn't.
Chris

[John Cook]

Barry, I've tried sprays and paint-on varnishes over the past 50 years or so, though not all the products mentioned here.  On sprays, follow the instructions and spray from about 30 cm, or 12" in old money.  Wait until the first coat is dry before applying the second.  I spray gloss first then matt, GW 'Purity Seal' or AP, boith of which give a slightly satin finsih, which I like. inches.  I've been using Vallejo gloss and matt for small jobs, 20-30 figures.  The matt is as flat as you could want.  Avoid cheap brushes and synthetic ones - they are too stiff and tend to make the varnish 'froth' a bit if you aren't careful, which can result in bubbles dried into the finished coat.  Go for Kolinsky sable which are much softer and reduce frothing to almost nothing.  On the subject of brushes, buy the best you can afford.  I have found that synthetic brushes, while comparatively cheap, do not last as long and tend to curl and split in a short time, however well you look after them.  Sable, on the other hand, last for months of hard painting.  Cheap brushes are a false economy in my experience

[Leman]

Couldn't agree more.

[SV52]

Any spray matt varnish which costs under a tenner and W&N Series 7, a cracking combination 

[Last Hussar]

I spray GW Purity Seal.  Part of why I spray is it fixes the flock on the base.

[Plasticoutsider]

I spray GW Purity Seal.  Part of why I spray is it fixes the flock on the base.

Right.  That makes sense.  Thanks!

[Hertsblue]

OK - you're now thoroughly confused by all this advice, aren't you? That's what usually happens on this forum. 

[Leman]

Amazing; the many and varied ways to achieve the same result. Like most wargamers I arrived at my preferred option through trial and error.

[cameronian]

I use gloss ARMY PAINTER, mid brown and here's why. The varnish, if applied lightly with a brush, seeps into the folds and corners of clothing obviating the need to highlight without pooling (although I do put a lighter colour over bright colours like carmine to give it a bit of lift). The 'gloss' finish on 10mm doesn't look at all bad, I think it looks better than matt in terms of brightening the table, also the very flat look of matt figures I don't think is particularly accurate. If you look from a distance at - say the Guards or the Household Cavalry or indeed The Kings Troop, you will notice that the formations seem to scintillate. Cap badges, buttons, weapons, gun barrels, even the flanks of the horses are highly reflective. When I look at masses of matt painted figures I don't see that, just a dull uniformity. On any scale bigger than 10mm I think it looks poor but on the smaller scales I think it goes very well. Very thin PVA to consolidate the flock/ballast bases works well.
Just my three ha'pence worth.

[Leman]

But a very interesting three'appence. Must try some of that out.

[cameronian]

Thorough application with good quality sable brush, don't overload the brush and don't flock the bases first as if you do overload your brush it will 'pool' on the base and ruin the flock.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/55665103@N03/5158035132/in/photostream/

Just noticed you commented on these years ago!

[FierceKitty]

Windsor and Newton matt artist's fixative for me every time, two light coats for preference. Why do I think I say this here about every eight months?

[cameronian]

Because you're getting old and doddery.

[FierceKitty]

Getting? That's a charitable way to put it.