"Fading GMB Flags - advice on how to avoid?" Topic

I have found that my GMB flags that I attached to units (with PVA glue) have faded while those that have not been attached are OK. They were not varnished and have been stored with units using flags from other manufacturers that have not faded.

Does anyone have any advice on what I may be doing wrong – or should do in addition to gluing them.

I have not received any replies to a number of requests for advice from GMB using their using the email on their website as well as the Contact Us form on their website.

I've included an image of before and now.

Thanks

Printer inks are, in the main, made from dye based inks. Dye based inks will oxidise in excessive light, whether UV or day light. The usual is about 6 months before they fade. Inks that are pigmented will last longer.
I found this out the hard way with some pictures I printed.

korsun0, do inks from color laser printer fade the same way as inkjet printers?

They should last longer because of the way they are applied (heat vs sprayed on). However, if you get a top quality ink and decent paper, then an ink jet should last.

Hobby Lobby and Michaels both have archival and UV sprays that will take care of this. Each can isn't cheap, but it does the job.

I tend to brush gloss varnish onto my flags to seal them and then matt varnish them. Never had any fading issues.

Faded looks just fine, call them battle worn after all how long did flags hold their original color? Might have to give the units veteran status…. :)

But as others have said I use a matt varnish spray and so far, so good.

My GMB Napoleonic standards showed some fading even when stored in a pitch dark attic. At least sone did and not others. Did temperature extremes play a part.

I just bought some new ones. Compared with two dozen metal figures and the time that went into painting, the cost is negligible.

GMB after sales service is superb and let me connect you to a discussion that I was involved in over a dozen years ago;

TMP link

I spray a matt varnish on mine and have never had any problem with them fading. They have lasted for years now.

How old were the flags?

I had the same thing happen to a few dozen 15mm and 28mm Spanish and Portuguese flags of 2010 vintage. A long time ago and, as Liam's link suggests, a problem long since resolved.

Grahame gladly replaced many of my flags and I dare say there may be others of the same vintage which I am yet to apply, but after fifteen years it would be difficult to argue that the same duty of care applies.

No problem with the newer ones. They really are the most beautiful flags on the market in my opinion.

And leave them unvarnished, as any spray will frost them.

Thanks for all the replies. Mine were purchased around 2009/2010 – so may have been affected by the issues referred to here and in some of the other posts.

Unfortunately, I have had no luck contacting GMB through any of the means noted in my original post.

And leave them unvarnished, as any spray will frost them.

Have never had that happen on any flag I have purchased or printed. I always spray.

I have some insights into this.

My standard procedure when doing my recent 28mm AWI and ACW projects was to glue the flags onto the command stand poles and then varnish the command stand as the last thing, which meant getting some spray varnish on the flags as well.

I used Testors Dullcote on dozens of command stands that had GMB flags on them. None of them frosted, all that happened was that they took on a SLIGHTLY dusty finish but nothing that significantly affected their appearance. In fact it makes them look kind of a bit worn and actually it's a cool effect.

HOWEVER – I recently painted a few more AWI regiments and went ahead and did the usual spray varnish on the command stands, but this time I used AK Interactive spray varnish. NO GOOD. AK Interactive does more than frost the flags, it interacts with whatever finish is already on the paper from the factory. The flags were covered in a crackled sort of white finish that pretty much ruined the flags.

HOWEVER #2 – I was able to rescue them using a gloss brush on varnish, followed by a matte brush on varnish. The ironly was that the brush on varnishes were also AK Interactive. Their brush on varnishes are fabulous products.

So the knowledge that I take from this discussion is it's better to just not varnish flags at all and leave them as they are. From now on I'll spray varnish the rest of infantry stands of regiments, but I'll use a brush on varnish for the command stand figures and leave the flags alone. That way there's no chance of them getting a funky finish.