"Gloss or Matte ...or (gasp) nothing at all?" Topic

When you've finished painting your miniatures, what is your usual procedure for the final clear coating stage?

(a) Gloss finish – I like them to shine.
(b) Matte finish – I like that natural look.
(c) Nothing – I don't use any kind of clear coating on my miniatures.

A, I gloss my figures because I like the "toy soldier" shine.

(c). Sealing dulls the colors slightly, and I take good care of my toys, so it's never been a problem.

(a) It wears better and I don't think they are all THAT shiny.

I use Semi-gloss, not too shiny. Matte is too dull.

(d)Gloss for durability then ultra matt to bring out the natural look.

(d)

D as well.
Anything <54mm shouldn't be glossy. That's reserved for those classy old school toy soldiers.

b)
d) when I am not lazy

Usually c. I have used a clear, semi-glossy sealer, but I haven't used it on most of my miniatures.

d

(a)

In the past matte, although shields and some leather would get a glossier finish. I am trending towards smaller scales and simpler, brighter paint jobs. Along with that, a hard gloss finish is looking better and better to me.

C I always go commando.

B .. So that they look more real…

I gloss toy soldier style stuff, but otherwise I rarely bother to varnish these days apart from 20mm plastics and 6mm horse and musket.

(c) I've never bothered with varnish. Doesn't seem to be a problem.

b.

B – matte.

A little while ago bought some figures off BuyerBewareBay – mixed set of plastics and metal.

Plastics were fine, but the metal….they had been nice but the painter hadn't varnished and, to make matters worse, hadn't undercoated either.

Oh…all those little paint chips and shiny bits from very slight wear and tear.

I was not happy – and it'll be virtually impossible to fix, not easy to "touch in" when you don't know the colour blends.

So – B: Matte Varnish

c never use a varnish

I find paints have different levels of sheen when they dry. I use Varnish as much to unify the sheen as to protect the figures. Hard plastics seem Ok with one coat of matt. For metals I use two coats of matt.

A) then let dry completely. Then B)

c the figures are usually o.k., but I have lost paint on flags and sashimono.

B) Matte – Usually Krylon matte finish. Sometimes (mostly when spraypainting outside is not an option), watered down PVA or wood glue.

B Then go back and redo the metallics.

D) semi-gloss all the way.

B then paint metallics.

Another vote for the matte camp.

Matt, with touches of gloss for windows etc!

satin first, then matte

I've had too many figures lose paint to trust matte on it's own, but I don't like shiny figures.

I'm a matte kinda guy, but to be honest, the main reason why I use clear coating it to preserve the flocking on my bases. Otherwise, it is constantly crumbling off. I've never had a problem with paint wearing off the figures from handling.

I don't usually redo metallics after a matte coat. I think it makes them look more like real metal (shiny, but slightly dulled) rather than hey-this-has-been-out-of-the-box-for-like-ten-seconds metal.

C. I thought I was almost alone in this, glad to see so many others do not use a spray.

Matte, but then brush on gloss for things that ought to be shiny.

Unless I am being lazy. Then just matte.