spray varnish

[Steel Penguin]

Good evening all..
I'm slowly moving away from using Games Workshop stuff ( the leads losing interest and getting a tad pricey) but have still used there varnish till i got my latest can  £9.50 is a bit costly, even accounting for my inherent laziness.
Does any one have any suggestions for good, consistant coat and finish spray varnish that is easily and readily gettable in the UK??

[CANSO]

Did you ever try Future/Pledge or any similar product? I have no idea what is the equivalent for Future in the UK though.

[deathjester]

How about basic old Humbrol spray varnish?

[Weaver]

Future is "Klear" in the UK, but the old stuff has been replaced by a new formula that isn't so good.

I've had all kinds of problems with Humbrol Spray varnish in the past, seemingly because the varnish was swelling the o-ring in the top of the can, but other people didn't report the same problem so it may have been a dodgy batch, or something like that.

[Steel Penguin]

thanks guys, this is why I'm asking, the last thing i want is to end up with a batch of stuff, either etched due to solvent, or going white or foggy, or having a line of troops going from matt through silk to gloss.

[Steel Penguin]

further to this, i had a look at the humbrol tins today at hobbycraft and its ( shudder) actualy cheaper to get the GW varnish! 400 ml for £9.5 compared to 2 humbrols at £5 each for 150ml each.

[Mossie]

I use Humbrol matt spray varnish, I find it has a very matt finish that is good for more battered models.  I must admit though, it's tempramental.  If you use it, hairspray it on from a distance and you shouldn't have any problems.  If you get too close or put too much on in one go you can get patches that are semi-opaque and spoil the finish.  Now I know it's foibles it's not a problem.

[Geoff]

I use Tamia own make rattle cans -  a bit pricey but consistant.

[Dizzyfugu]

I use Humbrol matt spray varnish, I find it has a very matt finish that is good for more battered models. 

Same here, but with any solvent-based varnish/spray can: the spray had will easily clogg, so doing a thorough rattle before you use the can is mandatory, as well as holding the can upside down after use and do some "dry spraying" in order to clear the paint channel and the head.

Another coat I'd like to throw in, even if I do not know if it is available in the UK, is Duplicolor's water-based matte varnish - I buy it online via ebay, because it is hard to find in stores/DIY markets. Only comes in 400ml cans, but dries quickly and evenly, fine spray, and almost as matt as Humbrols' stuff.

[Mossie]

I'll look out for that, as just yesterday I sprayed the humbrol matt varnish on a JB Models Light Gun and got opaque patches again.  Thought I'd sprayed far enough away, it was my final touch and now I'm going to have to re-do the paint job all over again.  It'd taken me a while as I was practsing some shading, highlighting and weathering effects so I'm a bit miffed.

[NARSES2]

I'll look out for that, as just yesterday I sprayed the humbrol matt varnish on a JB Models Light Gun and got opaque patches again.  Thought I'd sprayed far enough away, it was my final touch and now I'm going to have to re-do the paint job all over again.  It'd taken me a while as I was practsing some shading, highlighting and weathering effects so I'm a bit miffed.

Mossie I know this is going to sound daft but. I've had that opaqueness a couple of times. I've washed the kit in plain old tap water and after it's dried I've given it a light respray with the varnish. It's worked more times then not. If it dosen't work you havn't lost much ?

[Mossie]

Thanks Chris, I'll give it a try, I'll only have to paint the whole model anyway.

[Dizzyfugu]

It could also be an issue with the paint under the varnish. Revell enamels, for instance, do not get well with Humbrol varnish, esp. the matt stuff. It can become shiny and yellow-ish. Not certain if this could be an issue here, but I'd consider this as an error source, too. 

[Mossie]

I've got a coat of Klear on as a base, but otherwise it's a Humbrol acrylic spray over Humbrol acrylic highlights, with some pro-modellers washes.  I've had simillar problems on pure Humbrol acrylics, so I guess it's the spray paint itself rather than a reaction.

Chris, I gave your idea a try.  It reduced the problem but didn't get rid of it entirely, should hopefully save me a little bit of work.

[NARSES2]

Chris, I gave your idea a try.  It reduced the problem but didn't get rid of it entirely, should hopefully save me a little bit of work.

Glad I could help a little