"Spray varnish before applying flock to terrain boards?..." Topic

Hello all. Just getting to a point where I'm ready to apply flock(static grass) to a bunch of modular 2 x 2 terrain boards. They consist of GW's Battleboard as well as extensions to it that I made out of gypsum panel.

I remember a ways back when I last did miniatures that one of the cardinal rules of spray varnishing a miniature was that it had to be done BEFORE applying flock to the base because varnish chemically eats static grass and flock.

Do you think that it is necessary to varnish terrain boards? Maybe better to use watered-down PVA or something else to seal them?

My last question is if I was to varnish my boards at this point, would static grass that was applied using Elmer's or other PVA even stick if glued on top of a layer of varnish?

I've never used varnish, but if you want to seal your boards then use Matte Medium. Nothing better and wont harm anything.

Matte medium over the flock or under it?

I always give my terrain boards a blast of Testors Dullcote once they are flocked and everything is finished

I actually apply matte medium first, or underneath the flock, and then spray a heavy coat on top of it so that it absorbs through the flock. Otherwise you can develop a "crust" of flocking material that's not really glued to the board.

Here is a post on my blog on how I constructed the club's felt tournament boards. Something like this should work for you.

link

@HistoryPhD,

Yes but doesn't Dullcote eat the flock and static grass since it's polyurethane and not acrylic? I would like to do what you do, which is apply the flock to the board first and then give the whole thing a good spray layer or two of sealer.

How about this? Modpodge is an acrylic sealer that comes in gloss or matte. I used the brush-on gloss sealer to make excellent water river effects and it does dry crystal clear.

Modpodge matte acrylic sealer maybe? Since it's acrylic I would imagine that you could spray it over the top of everything to seal the flock in as well as giving the overall board a seal?

link

Baranovich;
When I do terrain I put the sand down with PVA glue, then let dry. Next I put static grass down with PVA glue, then let dry. If I want to add clump foliage, little leaves, etc., I use PVA glue, then let dry. I then spray the entire piece with matte clear spray paint (cheapo stuff from Walmart)…usually 2 good coats with drying time in between, followed by 1 – 2 light coats of Testors dull ocat. I then take the pieces inside after they are dry (since I spray outside) and let them dry really well for about 48 hours in the basement where it is cool in the summer to off gas and dry to room temperature. I have never had an issue with it eating things away.

Here is my website…although there are no big terrain pieces in the pictures, you can see the results on the figures and the tree bases in the background.

Hope that helps.
Regards,
Hitman

Buy some very cheap hair lacquer and spray the flocked boards with that. Very effective.

Baranovich, I've used Dullcote for decades (literally) and I've never had a single problem or complaint

Modge Podge matte is Matte Medium.
Use it before and after. Dries clear and holds everything in place.

Future floor polish works well too….

I've dullcoted over flock (mostly woodland scenics brand) any number of times with no problems.

Doug

Prior to spraying with Dullcote, I give the terrain a good soaking with Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement, using a small pipet, and then let it dry overnight.

Hairspray does work – but get odorless. Otherwise you'll smell the hairspray – for decades!

Prior to spraying with Dullcote, I give the terrain a good soaking with Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement, using a small pipet, and then let it dry overnight.

Dilute matte medium works for this also.

Doug