Painting 1/35 Scale Figures

Not sure what you mean,but as you know,Future is gloss while matte varnish is,well,flat.

Also Future is acrylic,while a matte varnish could be acrylic,enamel,or lacquer depending on what company you use.

So the mattt varnish is like using say Model Master Flat Clear?

Thanks Tojo72!!

djp

So the mattt varnish is like using say Model Master Flat Clear?

Or Tamiya XF-86 Flat Clear; Tamiya Ts-80 rattlecan.

Mr Color --Mr Super Clear Flat; Mr Hobby is #103 Aquesous Hobby Premium Clear Flat.

Quite a few varieties out there.

The term "varnish" gets used by people in Britain (and those educated in British English).  Technically "varish" is a resin suspended in volitile carrier like alcohol or petroleum solvents.  It's often used as a term-of-art to refer to anything that renders a clear coat that is not lacquer (lacquer is made by dissolving lac beetle shells in pure alcohol, neutral grain spirit, or "clear spirits" the wax in the shels gives the hard coat and the soft golden hue).

Mind, people in Europe are confused by "Future" as that acrylic floor "wax" is not advertised over there.  There's a similar product, but, for the life of me, I can't remember the name.

I tend to not use gloss on figures except for things that are clear like goggles or the like.  Even for polished boots, I prefer a semi-gloss (with dabs of flat to show scuffs, scale permitting).

Future here is not a similar product, its the same product just with a different name. It used to be called Klear, its lastest incarnation is Pledge. But most modelers will still know it as future.

I don't usually use a gloss on figures either. The only exception is when i am useing Archer dry transfers, and thats to protect them from any wash. But i always seal a model with a flat coat.

Thank you all very much for your help! Great to have such a good resource at hand!!

Testors' DullCote is another matte coat product you could use.  I use that on figures and on models, as a sealer coat.

As far as using a gloss medium goes, whether you use Future or some other product, I'll second using it on figures for things that are glossy by nature, like goggle lenses.  I also use it sometimes on eyes, especially in larger scales.

But I also paint 54mm figures in a traditional gloss toy soldier finish.  I use Future in that process, especially as a final sealer to the colors I've applied, which are a mix of matte and gloss.  For example, here is a 54mm kit figure of a Prussian grenadier fifer from the Seven Years War, which I painted with matte acrylics, and then sealed with Future for a gloss finish:

I have also started using Future to make glazes, by mixing a drop of Future, a drop of water, and a touch of color.  I use this to pick out the molded details of the castings.  Here is a group of civilians circa 1910, from my collection of the Kaiser's Army.  I used the glazing technique on these:

Best regards,

Brad

Bish

Future here is not a similar product, its the same product just with a different name. It used to be called Klear, its lastest incarnation is Pledge. But most modelers will still know it as future.

It is now "Pledge" is the US, too.