Post by gaz01 on Aug 16, 2021 0:07:30 GMT
Well that went well, NOT!
So I've just got round to a few days of painting after a hiatus. Undercoat, painting no problem. Now my minis have always been finished with a light brushed on coat of matt clear cote. I've always hated that last part and previously someone else has generally done it, but he is not local any more. So using a half full bottle of said product, which was last used about a year ago (possibly a little less), I did it myself. It being the longest period it hasn't been used, I gave it a shake and a very good stir to make sure the bottom layer was well mixed in. ALAS, applied it to first two WSF minis and didn't notice anything then on to the third, detail plastic. It was a carrier and pretty quick I noticed it was removing the paint, it took the hull colour on to the flight deck. I looked back at the first two and sure enough some of that had been removed, mainly in recess and detailed areas. No paint was coming off or being moved round on the WSF which makes me think it vanished whilst drying (or did it frost?). The detailed mini was obvious, as it rolled off in patches. Now, I don't know if it was because the varnish had been sat a while or I'd over stirred it or what. I was looking for a light (not a lot on the brush each time) coat and I copied how I'd seen it done before.
Anyway I googled this and it seems it has been a problem with this brand before but several of these have been used on my minis previously without problems. Somebody said its likely a faulty batch but I know the bottle used was ok before.
I've just spoken to my local hobby shop and they weren't sure and advised me to use a hand held spray on, which I bought from them. However on further research on line it seems they aren't without problems and have dissuaded me from using that at the moment.
I'm now considering ditching the sealing process altogether. Once they are based, they won't be handled but they won't look quite uniform with those done previously. They will have that fresh paint look and not the slightly wet appearance. Although I wouldn't miss this part of the process as like I say, I've always hated the time consuming nature of it.
Interestingly on my google searches, I did come across the varnished or unvarnished mini debates from this previous forum in years gone by and have seen plenty of posts in the modelling section without varnishing.
The two WSF I've pretty much had to repaint and the back third of the carrier. The only tell tale being a slight minor ridge on the back of the flight deck where I had to scrape the relocated paint off but couldn't quite get it all without digging into the material. I'd already decided going forward I'm only getting WSF as the detail takes too much time with the extra prep/paint coats needed. WSF if fine for me.
Also, after I realised all this I did a little test to make sure it wasn't me applying it wrong (brushstrokes or whatever). I put a little bit on my brush and just dabbed it on one of the minis and sure enough, the paint removed or frosted - Acidic tendencies!!
