"Spray sealant advice" Topic

It's awful when the troops are painted, mounted, bases flocked and then something goes wrong with the sealant and everything is ruined. Was wondering what advice people have. Gloss, then dull? Also humidity seems to cause a lot of trouble, giving a cloudy look. Any good systems out there?

Testors Dullcote, but watch the humidity

Yeah, humidity is the biggest bug-a-bear with any spray sealants. I've had that happen to a few units and, since living where I do means almost always high humidity, I've started using brush-on sealant.

Jim

I use Krylon 1303 Gloss when you will handle the figures a lot. Safe for non-permanent paints especially. Then I spray with their matt spray on top. End result is protection and matt finish.

ANY sealant can cause fogging. Humidity, especially with dull coat/flat finish is the worst. flat finishes are flat because the surface is rough, deflecting the light. If you spray in a humid environment, water gets trapped in the rough areas. So you end up with a fogged figure.

Wait for a relatively low humidity day or spray indoors in a well ventilated area. Most any clear coat will work. I use Krylon. I've used Testors. I've had the fog with both products. I stuck with Krylon because of the lower cost.

Pick one. Stay with it. Follow the directions.

I've stopped varnishing my figures for the most part. Those that are heavily used, no matter the amount of carefully applied varnish, still get the occasional chip -- occasionally enough that it's just not worth the effort (or the risk of fog).

My display figures, I'll actually varnish, if only to add that tiny bit of extra protection for when those nicer figures get handled. It's a little more difficult to repaint/repair my display figures than my cannon-fodder minis.

If you still want to varnish -- I recommend the aforementioned Testors Dullcote. Two or three thin layers (let them dry in between) works just as well as dullcote plus any gloss (though, using Dullcote exclusively can get a little pricey.)

Can someone give a product number for the Krylon flat? I have several different ones but not sure which to use.
THanks,
Bob

Testor's gloss cote finished with two Testor's dull. Let dry fully before each new application too.

Just use super hold hairspray. You can spay inside and never fogs.

Most people try to apply too much sealant and get a cloudy appearance. You need just barely enough to coat the model, not enough to seal the model in a solid block of plastic.

I use krylon matt spray 1311

Just use super hold hairspray. You can spay inside and never fogs.

It also gives the "figures" hair tremendous body!

Most people try to apply too much sealant and get a cloudy appearance.

Definitely not a volume matter, at least with Krylon or Testors. I've used both sparingly before and occasionally still get the fog. A second coat will usually obliterate the fog.

Thanks, Avidgamer.
Bob

My experience with Krylon 1311, their Matte spray, was that it dried to sort of a semi gloss or satin finish.

Instead, I now use Krylon 9148 Flat Crystal Clear Acrylic. It Is Important to move it fairly quickly across your figures to avoid the white clouding. It took me a little experimentation to move it quickly enough to avoid that, but slowly enough to turn the figures flat.

Tom

Living in North Central Florida dull coat is like roulette and the humidity always wins so it's gloss coat for me usually Krylon from wal mart

I second the Krylon flat that Garryowen suggested. Great stuff.

I must be old fashion, I still paint with enamel paint, then brush on a semi-gloss clear Acrylic. I has a bad experience with spays a "few" years ago, and will never use them again. The spray went "frosty" and just ruined a weeks work.