Vallejo varnish tacky to the touch?

I hate to say this, but the tackiness you refer to is a pretty common thing with Vallejo acylics. I wish thier varnishes didn't do this, but they do. I use Vallejo paints almost exclusively but I don't use thier varnishes with the exception of little details that will never be handled. For the rest I prefer clear coats that cure hard like Alclad (both thier solvent-based and acrylic).

I suspect in time the Vallejo varnish will harden, I've never had the patience to wait.

On the second part of your question, I don't have any idea, sorry.

This whole Vallejo tackiness issue baffles me. The paint is popular and widely used, and certainly by gamers painting pieces that will be handled a lot.

I don't know that this is very helpful, but I've shared what I can.

You're welcome.

Greg calls it right. As a former Vallejo user, (before intensive re-hab,) I really liked the system, but found the Model Air takes a very long time to fully set up. As in a couple of weeks or more.

I would describe it as a "rubbery feel", not sticky, but neither is it fully cured paint. I wish the characteristic was not present, as otherwise I liked the system quite well. To clarify, I only used their proprietary thinner and other Model Air products, in a temperature controlled environment.

Patrick

I think "rubbery feel" describes it about perfectly, Patrick.

I think I will order the water based aqua gloss from Alclad. I only see they make gloss finish in water based. It looks like the only semi gloss is solvent based. 

Is is there a way to take the aqua gloss and full it down just a bit if I did not want s high flies finish on my project?

italian77

Is is there a way to take the aqua gloss and full it down just a bit if I did not want s high flies finish on my project?

I've wondered this myself, perhaps someone has an answer. In the meantime, here is an alternate idea for you to kick around.

As much as I am trying to avoid solvent-based painting in the house, I have taken a strong liking to the regular solvent-based Alclad clears. So when everything is done and it's time for that final coat, that's what I use.

As a bonus, it dries fast and is really durable. (and back to the original question, the rubbery-feel Vallejo is buried below, to cure in it's own time).