"Mod Podge, my new favorite hobby sealer" Topic

My posts about gloss Mod Podge being a miracle product for producing water effects are fairly well known to some on the TMP forums.

But I recently also returned to the product in its matte form.

As you may know, Mod Podge is sold primarily as a puzzle and picture sealer as well as general craft products. However it is often overlooked by many wargamers because it isn't typically thought of as being useful as a sealer in a gaming context.

But I can tell you from using it recently, it just may be the perfect sealer for painted terrain! Forget spray varnish, not even close.

I used it to seal the painted areas on my Citadel Realm of Battle Board. This stuff is like putting a coating of clear resin over a painted surface. When it dries it is like IRON. Far thicker protection than you could ever get from multiple layers of spray varnish.

Here's some before, during, and after pics. of what it looks like. The lighting makes it look shinier than it actually is in person. I would say that it's more of a satin finish over acrylic craft paints:

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I'm not sure how well it would work on actual miniatures because it goes on thicker than a varnish does. I may try one small test model to see what it looks like. But I'm venturing that if you use a small brush and are careful to use a very thin coat, that it could be an effective varnish for either plastic or metal minis. Mod Podge is known for not yellowing and for maintaining its transparency.

And as you can see in the pics. after its dry the color of the paint and the details of the terrain are perfectly visible.

Michael

Welcome to the club!

I use the matte one on terrain all the time and have done so for years. Haven't tried in on figures though.

Dan

I've used Modge Podge on figures for years now. Both the Satin and the Matte. Great product.

@nnascati,

I was wondering how well it works on actual miniatures! That's great news that you've successfully used it that way!

If so, it will free up my head and free up a lot of stress that varnishes cause with all the issues that spray varnishes have and all the shenanigans of using a gloss varnish first before a matte varnish!

Plus with Mod Podge I assume that one coat of matte is a far superior protection than even the best gloss varnishes sold for miniatures.

Thanks for sharing your info and experience!

In fact, I've recently taken to doing a coat of satin, followed up with a coat of matte.

Used it for years. Never had an issue, even Dullcote over it with no ill effects.

I am a big fan of the 'Podge too. Matte, satin, and gloss all have their uses.

In this conversion, I used matte to seal the figures and gloss on the shoes to make them look like polished leathers or coroframs with the khaki uniforms.

Awesome guys, thanks for sharing!

I love Mod Podge, use it for lots of things including basing projects and occasionally even puzzles :)

Have some that ah used for primer on some softer plastic figures. Do you have to dilute it as a sealer ?

@Wolfshanza,

I'm not sure about diluting it as a sealer. I'm sure you can, since it's water-based.

I used it full strength on the terrain boards that I did and it didn't obscure any detail or fill in any detail.

However on miniatures I would probably tend to dilute it since it can collect in cracks and crevices and might dry too thick on some areas of the figure.

Having used the gloss for river water effects, I can report that it sets up VERY fast. If you took a blob of it and dropped it onto a piece of paper the Mod Podge would actually stand up and form and cure into a clear dome shape, it resists spreading out into a puddle remarkably well. And it actually has the ability to easily retain its shape even if you glop it on when making things like shallow but thick river ripples. That could be bad on a mini. where you want as thin a coat as possible.

Ok, thanks :) I'll give it a try.

Anyone have issues with it getting wet, and re-liquifying, years later? Hard about this on another forum, wanted to check with all of you who have used it. Cheers!

Diluting it makes great scenic cement for locking down flock.

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Combine with a wetting agent:

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I'm about to test it on some mesh web ribbon material to stiffen it up and adhere it to corridor walls. I hope it will help me add an "organic" look to my project.

Dan
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So Dan, what's the update on this project?

Anyone know if it will yellow with age. I would like to try it out on figs.

Pete

Anyone have issues with it getting wet, and re-liquifying, years later? Hard about this on another forum, wanted to check with all of you who have used it. Cheers!

I made some terrain and sealed it with matte Mod Podge. Put the pieces into storage with some of the pieces just lightly touching each other. The areas touching each other stuck together so strongly that the paint pulled away from the insulation. I guess the PVA will stick to itself, if in contact.

Thanks, Bowman! Cheers!