Fixative Alternative

[Vicarious]

Hey guys,

I've been using GW's sealant for all of my metal models, but I'm not crazy about the results. I find that it dulls the colors quite a bit and takes all of the luster out of the metallics. I remember reading somewhere (can't remember where) about someone using a floor sealant instead.

I was wondering if there are any other quality alternatives for the GW spray fixatives that work better for the metal figures.

[Valander]

I've been using Vallejo acrylic polyurethane varnishes shot through my airbrush. I like them as much as my old standby of Krylon gloss followed by Testors Dullcoat.

You could also use Future Floor Finish, either applied via brush or airbrush, but that will give you a pretty high gloss finish. It's durable, though, and you can matte it down with another varnish on top of that if you want.

[Vicarious]

Hmm just to clarify, I am looking for a matte sealant to prevent the models from chipping once they are finished. Is there a reason why you would use Krylon gloss then Testors dullcoat instead of going straight to the dullcoat?

In addition, is it better to use sprays in general, or can you get a better result by painting a sealant directly on the model?

[Valander]

Yes, actually. Gloss coats tend to be harder, and thus offer more protection against chipping/rubbing. Testors Dullcoat alone offers very little protection (though it really depends on how rough you are with your models; I have some that only have dullcoat and they haven't chipped, but I know other people that put a lot of gloss then matte and handle them rough or something and still see some wear).

I think sprays are typically easier to get an even coat, but there's no reason why you couldn't brush it on. That pretty much comes to personal preference, I think.

[Nion]

The additional advantage of using gloss and then dull is that if your dullcoate ever does wear off, the gloss shows through and warns you about it before your paint is in danger.

Also, my experience has been that Future Floor Polish will lift off GW washes, so it's good to have alternatives on hand.