Now I know why...

[Antenociti]

Army painter is, surprisingly, OK.

However, as with Testors, be warned: atmospheric conditions, especially temeprature, will seriously mess with it.

Particularly temperatures under 20-21Celsius...it really does not like the cold. Neither does it like being sprayed from too far away from the model/figure, both can result in "whiting".

(I sell both, and use both so I find myself fairly neutral tbh).

To be perfectly open... about any varnish: if it is an aerosol it will, sooner or later, go horribly wrong for you, somewhere at some time.
That remains a perpetual risk for any and every aerosol varnish, or lacquer, there is out there, bar none. 

having said that, conquering the Dullcote technique is somewhat more fraught than some other varnishes/lacquers...but it is great stuff ateotd (best is airbrushing the liquid though - but it rots your O-rings unless you clean well and lube afterwards)

With the Army painter Matt i've found it works opposite to the Dullcote - Dullcote you use very fine misting, with AP you slather the stuff on and it seems to do better than a misting which often white-outs on you.

But get the AP right, which isnt that hard, and it is pretty darn matte.

Good old spray cans eh? 

[Bako]

While we're talking about and comparing varnish, may I fancy the chance to ask if anyone knows of a good, reliable matte varnish you can brush on? I always prime figures and apply gloss varnish by hand because I'm not too fond of any kind of aerosol. Tree-hugger an' all that.

[anevilgiraffe]

I tried the Army Painter stuff when the Dullcote got banned or whatever it was... bloody awful stuff, misted terribly no matter what I tried... never had a problem with Dullcote...

[blackstone]

While we're talking about and comparing varnish, may I fancy the chance to ask if anyone knows of a good, reliable matte varnish you can brush on?

Ahh I was beginning to think nobody used brush varnish anymore I'll swear by Humbrol Matt 49. It's brilliant and proper matt. It's oil based and so would need white spirit to clean a brush, but I use cheap kids paint brushes and just throw them away after varnishing. Like all matt varnish it needs to be stirred very well, the matting agent is a thick gloop which settles at the bottom of the tin. I put a small coin in the tin to use as an agitator when shaking the tin after stirring. Perfect results every time.

The downside could be it's slightly yellow rather than clear, like a proper wood varnish. It's like putting a super fine warm yellow glaze on your figure... but really subtle. It wouldn't make white areas look yellow for example. Something to bear in mind though. All my painted pics on the forum have been varnished with this 2 to 3 coats.

Acrylic matt? I yet to find one that's anything other than satin, although the best of the lot is Revell email colour Matt.

[Antenociti]

While we're talking about and comparing varnish, may I fancy the chance to ask if anyone knows of a good, reliable matte varnish you can brush on? I always prime figures and apply gloss varnish by hand because I'm not too fond of any kind of aerosol. Tree-hugger an' all that.

Daler Rowney matte
Go and see this link for some good advice on using DR matte and varnsihing in general


W&B Galeria Matte
With the Galeria the trick is to leave the cap off for a while so that some of the carrier evaporates - this will leave  nice , thick, viscous varnish around the neck of the bottel which is, essentially, a concentrate of the matting agent in a lower portion of carrier - this is wonderfully matte.

[archangel1]

While we're talking about and comparing varnish, may I fancy the chance to ask if anyone knows of a good, reliable matte varnish you can brush on?...

I've had good results with Testors/Floquil Railroad Acrylics Flat Finish.  Mind you, I haven't used it in a while but it did give a nice matte appearance.  It may possibly be listed under the PollyScale brand.  They also do Gloss and Satin finishes.

[Hammers]

The downside could be it's slightly yellow rather than clear, like a proper wood varnish. It's like putting a super fine warm yellow glaze on your figure... but really subtle. It wouldn't make white areas look yellow for example. Something to bear in mind though.

To me this is  exactly why it can't be used. It completely ruins my whites. Well, not *my* whites as such, I do that in other ways, but the whites which I paint.

[Centaur_Seducer]

Do people still do the old ways of varnishing?
I don't mean by hand (which, since that's what I'm doing, the most awesome way to do it), but the steps that were in some old White dwarf.
Basecoat a hard satin coat
Spray with a matte varnish

The reason why I ask this stupid question is that I've been thinking about this for a long time and sometimes wonder whether the Matte Varnishes are designed for this or not.

[blackstone]

Do people still do the old ways of varnishing? I don't mean by hand (which, since that's what I'm doing, the most awesome way to do it), but the steps that were in some old White dwarf.

How old are the white dwarf issues you're talking about. I imagine the spray method coincided with the release of spray varnish  Seems an massive waste of time to brush varnish something satin or gloss then have to spray it to matt, when you can just brush varnish it matt to begin with.

[Darkoath]

While we're talking about and comparing varnish, may I fancy the chance to ask if anyone knows of a good, reliable matte varnish you can brush on? I always prime figures and apply gloss varnish by hand because I'm not too fond of any kind of aerosol. Tree-hugger an' all that.

Testors also makes a great dull coat brush on and a gloss coat brush on.  I would highly recommend both.
Just be very sure your paint is dry and be careful of special paints like tamiya clear red.  The dull coat brush on
can pull up your wet paint if your not careful and spread it around.

Darkoath

[Bako]

Thanks for the responses, guys. Especially Antenociti, I've been wanting an excuse to buy some of the modelling stuff and doodads from your shop for some time. I've written down the info so's I don't forget and ask again later.

The only use I can see in aerosol matte varnish would be for surfaces that used chalks for weathering that can get "ruined" by manual brushing and for hitting large scenery pieces with, not so much for applying over top pf gloss varnish.

Ahh I was beginning to think nobody used brush varnish anymore

And I thought no one made it anymore, m'self. Certainly a 'thank you' for the suggestion, but I keep to the acrylic medium. Not too big on anything enamel or oil-based. No problems, just preference I suppose.

[archangel1]

...Seems an massive waste of time to brush varnish something satin or gloss then have to spray it to matt, when you can just brush varnish it matt to begin with.

The technique has been used for years.  Gloss varnish is a lot harder than matte but many people don't like the finish.  The extra coat of flat is simply for aesthetics.  (Plus, I guess, you now have two layers of protection on your mini...)