What do you think is the best varnish

slupanter · Nov 21, 2018

Hi all,
I have been buying up lots of varnishes
I have just tried AK satin (rattle can), Lucky Varnish and Alclad II Aqua Gloss.
AK rattle can was complete a disaster
Lucky is a bit hit and miss
Aqua gloss seems to be ok

What do you all find is the best?

Topcat · Nov 21, 2018

I use lucky it is better than the ak.

slupanter · Nov 21, 2018

Topcat said:
I use lucky it is better than the ak.

Can I be nosy and ask what AB needle size and PSI or bar you spray it at? I am using 0.5 at 1.2 bar and about misting.

dave · Nov 21, 2018

For a gloss varnish i like Humbrol Clear Gloss, which sprays well.

For Satin and Matt finishes i use the spray cans of Winsor and Newton Galeria Professional Varnishes.

Topcat · Nov 21, 2018

Needle is 3.5 and about 20 psi. It is mush easier to clean the airbrush too.

scottie3158 · Nov 21, 2018

I'm the same as Dave, the Galeria matt is very good it sprays and brushed well and gives a very flat finish.

slupanter · Nov 21, 2018

scottie3158 said:
I'm the same as Dave, the Galeria matt is very good it sprays and brushed well and gives a very flat finish.

dave said:
For a gloss varnish i like Humbrol Clear Gloss, which sprays well.

For Satin and Matt finishes i use the spray cans of Winsor and Newton Galeria Professional Varnishes.

What sort of range are you both keeping from the model?

dave · Nov 21, 2018

With the airbrush i think about 6 inches, I have never really thought about it.

With the spraycans further away probably around 12 inches, (i hope my wife was not watching me type this as i go through the motions of pretending to spray an imaginary aircraft on the screen)

slupanter · Nov 21, 2018

dave said:
With the airbrush i think about 6 inches, I have never really thought about it.

With the spraycans further away probably around 12 inches, (i hope my wife was not watching me type this as i go through the motions of pretending to spray an imaginary aircraft on the screen)

HAHA

I am off to buy some ASAP, I see a lot of people saying 25 to 30cm so 12" ish sounds good.

Tim Marlow · Nov 21, 2018

Gloss I use Humbrol clearcoat for brush, and Zero clearcoat (from hiroboy) for spraying.
Matt I use Humbrol mattcoat for brush, and Tamiya for spraying (thinned with Mr Colour levelling thinner)
Also use Tamiya Semi gloss and Gloss when spraying.

Dave Ward · Nov 21, 2018

I use Humbrol Acrylic Clear Gloss Varnish - sprayed at 1.5 bar ( 22psi ) from 25cm, straight from the bottle. I use Vallejo Premium Matt & Satin Acrylic varnishes, at the same pressures, but tend to thin these a little - it's very rare for me to hand brush varnish!
Dave

AlanG · Nov 21, 2018

Matt - Xtracrylix flat varnish works a treat for me and it's especially good with a brush as it is with the airbrush
Satin - Humbrol statincote
Gloss - Klear (old version as i have 1 1/2 bottles left lol)

JR · Nov 21, 2018

Ultra mat, a real mat and the best I have ever come across. The others, satin and gloss, mainly Vallejo

Tim Marlow · Nov 21, 2018

Also, in addition to those listed above, in my railway days I used to use Ronseal semi gloss because it really did do exactly what it said on the tin....a litre lasted me about ten years.

JR · Nov 21, 2018

Tim Marlow said:
Also, in addition to those listed above, in my railway days I used to use Ronseal semi gloss because it really did do exactly what it said on the tin....a litre lasted me about ten years.

Tim... I use Wiko's own for diorama, think Ron probely does the same, as he would say " cheap as chips "
John.

slupanter · Nov 21, 2018

I think I rushed in with my lucky varnish and I have a bit bumpy surface. You are supposed to mist it on but sprayed it like Tamiya paint :sad:

, poor choice.
I hate varnishes and they just kill my projects and fun.

slupanter · Nov 22, 2018

I am going to give this a go as well.
Thoughts?

BarryW · Nov 22, 2018

My day to day varnishes are the four MRP varnishes, gloss, semi-gloss, matt and semi-matt. They spray beautifully, no issues at all.

For when I need a water based varnish I use AKI Ultra Matt and Aclad Aqua Gloss.

For final fittings when I need to apply a fairly durable high sheen gloss to detail with a brush I use Humbrol’s enamel gloss.

Robo · Jan 14, 2019

I too am a fan of Humbrol acrylic clear gloss varnish used straight from the bottle in the airbrush at 22psi. I favour a larger needle which gives a greater spread and coverage. For a satin or matt finish I use bottles of winsor and newton acrylic varnish diluted with a small amount of distilled water for use in the airbrush.

What do you think is the best varnish

slupanter

Topcat

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slupanter

dave

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scottie3158

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dave

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Tim Marlow

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Dave Ward

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AlanG

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Tim Marlow

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