Gloss Varnish 17ml

Vallejo Gloss Varnish 17 ml - Clear Gloss Varnish

Gloss Varnish from Vallejo is a clear gloss varnish on an acrylic base in a 17 ml dropper bottle. It is thinned with water, contains no solvents and once dry forms a hard, smooth and glossy film that protects the finish against abrasion, dust and moisture.

What it IS: a transparent protective varnish that changes nothing but the gloss of the surface. What it is NOT: it is not a paint and has no covering power at all - it will not repaint, hide or darken anything. Nor is it a white or milky coating; it looks milky only in the bottle and while drying, and once dry it is completely clear.

Use - Why Gloss Varnish BEFORE Decals

The main reason to keep a gloss varnish in the workshop is preparing the surface under decals. A flat or satin finish is rough on a microscopic scale. When a decal is laid on it, air pockets get trapped between its carrier film and the paint - those catch the light and produce the well-known decal silvering: a flat silvery frame is visible around the motif. On a smooth gloss surface the decal settles over its whole area, the film disappears and the marking looks painted on.

• Once the model is painted, spray the areas that will take decals with a thin coat of gloss varnish.
• Let it dry thoroughly (rather longer - acrylic varnishes need time to cure, not just to dry to the touch).
• Apply the decals, with the help of decal softener if needed.
• Coat with gloss varnish again - it hides the edges of the film and at the same time protects the paint and the decals against a wash, which can then be wiped off the smooth surface without any worry that it will dissolve the finish.
• Finally even the whole model out with a clear matte varnish (a separate product) - so that the model does not stay unnaturally glossy.

A gloss varnish also suits places where the gloss is meant to stay: the bodywork of racing cars and motorcycles, painted car bodies, glass, the eyes of figures.

Who the varnish is for

For everyone who puts decals on a model or works with washes and weathering - that is for modelers of aircraft, vehicles, cars and figures. Without a gloss intermediate coat, decal silvering is the most common mistake beginners make.

Shake before use. Apply in thin coats. Ensure sufficient ventilation and protect your airways when spraying. Keep out of the reach of children.