Protecting Metal Miniatures

Hello,

I am sure this topic has been brought up somewhere else, but as I can't seem to find it, I would like to ask for useful tips on protecting painted metal figures (especially from falls or scratches).

I heard that after we finish painting a miniature, we can coat it with gloss varnish to protect the paint and finally with matte varnish to remove the glossy look and flat the colour.

Is this process correct? If not, can you point to the right direction?

Also, if you have had positive experiences with any related products, can you please specify which ones (UK or non-UK) were successful?

Thanks a lot!

Joao

I have had the same problems with chipping, but after reading Orc Trader's excellent tutorial and putting it into practice it has never happened to me again.

I bought both Daler Rowney's gloss and matt varnish quite cheaply and they work brilliantly. However I haven't decanted the matt varnish as Orc Trader does, the varnish is matt enough for me straight from the bottle (read: very matt). Just make sure you shake it before you use it. Really, this method works really great. I hear other people swear by Testor's Dull coat spray varnish and I have bought it but never used it because I'm afraid of the frosting effect of spray varnish and because Daler Rowney's matt works so well I haven't even bothered to open the dull coat!

qazbnm, thanks a lot for the reply and the useful link!

I'll give it a go with a few "disposable" miniatures as a dry run and see what happens.

Joao