Figures protection varnish and metallic colors

[FraNe91]

Hello everyone!
I'm new in painting miniatures and I'm sure you can help me

I have two questions:

1) Since I'll use my figures to play roleplaying games I expect the painting will ruin soon. How can I protect them from scatches and so on?
What about the Vallejo Matt Varnish in the Pendraken site?

2) Is there a way to make a normal paint look metallic?

Thanks!

[robert]

Yes - matt varnish will do it.

Vallejo make excellent metallic paints as well

[sultanbev]

for coloured metallics
you could try buying one metallic paint, eg gun metal, then mixing it with your chosen colour, see what happens. I use Miniature Paints who do a range of metallic colours.

Mark

[Genom]

If it's funky fantasy metallics you're wanting, a basic metallic with a coloured inkwash or just watered down paint will give interesting colours.

[nikharwood]

For really good figure protection you want to gloss varnish your figures first for a really hard coat - and then dull this down with matt varnish.

Or you could use the Non Metallic Metal technique - also known as NMM - there are some funky tutorials online...works really well, although it can end up being a bit overblown sometimes?

I tend to not use metals in most of my 10mm painting particularly - going rather for greys for weaponry...

[Nav]

your best bet is to use Testors  spray laquare, it works real good protecting painy from dirt, scratches,nicks and dust.

[FierceKitty]

your best bet is to use Testors  spray laquare, it works real good protecting painy from dirt, scratches,nicks and dust.

Painy = rough, tough soldier slang for the NCO responsible for floggings.

[GordonY]

Personally I use B&Q floor varnish followed by Testors Dullkote for a nice near bulletproof matt finish on my figures.

[FraNe91]

Thanks, I already have a glossy spray varnish, and I'll buy the Vallejo matt varnish for the second hand.

The Non Metallic Metal technique seems interesting, and I'll try the other suggestions too, thanks!

[goat major]

Non Metallic Metals is a very interesting technique but at this scale i would suggest that it is borderline crazy.....

Also, because the technique is very dependent on identifying a consistent direction of light source - this becomes very difficult to do when you have units of figures, as opposed to just a few on a display base.

[Chad]

I was given a tip about spray varnishes.

Before use stand the can in some warmish water. This prevents the varnish 'going off'. Found this out after a bad varnishing experience. Recommend the Vallejo Matt.

Chad

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Agreed but just don't spray when raining or frosty... or if you do, put in the garage or other colder room to slowly dry before bringing into the warm, or the varnish will condense and mist up, leaving the dreaded white deposit!.

[FraNe91]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Just a doubt, when I said Vallejo matt varnish I was referring to the eyedropper bottle sold from Pendraken (the one here). Is there also the spray one?
And I've just noticed that there's Matt Medium and Matt Varnish. What do you suggest? And What's the difference?

[Leon]

Just a doubt, when I said Vallejo matt varnish I was referring to the eyedropper bottle sold from Pendraken (the one here). Is there also the spray one?
And I've just noticed that there's Matt Medium and Matt Varnish. What do you suggest? And What's the difference?

There is a spray varnish available from Vallejo, but I don't stock it.  There's all kinds of rules about sending aerosols by Airmail, so I've not bothered adding them yet.

The Matt Medium is used for mixing with the other colours to give a more matt finish to your figure.

[rexhurley]

Thanks, I already have a glossy spray varnish, and I'll buy the Vallejo matt varnish for the second hand.

The Non Metallic Metal technique seems interesting, and I'll try the other suggestions too, thanks!

Re Nik's suggestion pick up Kev Dallimores Masterclass Painting Guide from Foundry its in there, personally for gold i don't do the six layers in 10mm instead I cheat and use 3 Foundry Dusky Flesh 1, Ochre 1 then a touch of white bingo looks like it from any range (in fact better than the metallics IMO) same applies to armour using the slate grey's Valljo should be similar....or you could just use metallics but I'm hooked on the above now and don't intend going back.

Cheers