"Vallejo Matt varnish gone shiny" Topic

Hi, I've painted some metal 95th rifles in dark green, to stop the metal chipping I've coated in Vallejo Matt varnish brushed on, but it's made the figures go shiny. I don't think I did it too thick, and I shook well before hand. Anyone any ideas why it's gone shiny, and is there something I can do to dull it down ? What do uk people use to dull army painter toner ? I've read about testor dull coat but I can't find a brush on version in the uk.

Thanks

I've tried no end of so called matt varnishes, the best I've found is Humbrol Matt spray varnish from Boyes. This should also sort out the Vallejo stuff that's gone shiny.

It wasn't mixed well enough. Try using the end of a brush to stir it up from the bottom and then shake well. The reapplication will take the shine off.

Second shaking. I use the stuff all the time and learned you have to shake. I even had to thin with a little of their thinner medium. At the end of the day, everything was saved. No harm no foul.

yep, you must always shake well any varnish bottle before varnishing (for a minute, in my case! better too much than too little)

I stir mine as I found shaking it put too many air bubbles into it and left me with a good half inch "head" in the tub.

Vallejo just does that. It is a slightly shiny matt.

I second the recommendation of Humbrol 49 in spray cans. It has no peer. Keep the cans at room temperature, shake for as long as you can stand to but at least 5 minutes, then make plenty of passes with the can to ensure coverage. If you look at the results you get from spraying say white primer on grey figures, one pass of the can doesn't come near doing it.

If you can find it, Klear floor polish over the paint and before the varnish gives it added protection.

I tried Vallejo and gave up but suspect I did not follow the guidance above. Galleria Acrylic Matt Varnish is simply lethal stuff, in my hands…..

Boy, is it matt!

But the snag is that it knocks the stuffing out of the vibrancy of the colours. I had a series of horses, washed in chestnut ink and, so, too glossy. Great finish though.

Used this matt varnish. Wow, effective. But…….. end result? Naw…deadened the colours

I am going back to slightly shiny matt. Be careful what you wish for.

We need the experts here. von W or Rafa for example.

Boyes? Sounds like someone from my part of the world! Cheap and cheerful store and simply wonderful

Vallejo Matte is just fine, thank you. Same thing with the primer though--if it goes on shiny or satiny, you didn't shake it enough.

I try to shake it two or three times in the day or two before I use it. Only issue I've had is with a bottle that went yellow. I do find that I have to brush off any excess so that there are no milky patches.

Thanks for the replies. I shook it as much as I normally do, this is the first time I've had a problem. But a vigorous 1 minute shake and reapply to the shiniest guy does seem to have toned him down. Maybe as I go down the bottle I need to shake more ? Anyway lesson learned for next time. Thanks.

Krylon Acrylic Flat… nice flat finish.

@deadhead

I agree, I spray my figures with a matte spray which however leaves a slight sheen which I keep for horses or polished leatherwork, metal parts, for those parts I like a dull effect – indeed Vallejo Varnish works excellent which I brush on over that first varnish layer.