Protecting your work

[Viesturs]

Just a question from a relative newb to figures . What do you use to protect the figure once completed to stop it from fading or cracking. I live in a very dry climate especially in the winter months which has an effect on the paint work while sitting on shelf for awhile, have used hairspray but it gives it a shiny sheen. Any thoughts or advice ?? Thx

 

[Joe55]

I too live in a very dry climate, but I believe its important to keep your work from being exposed to direct sunlight and dust. Some of my figures have been sprayed with 'Dullcote' and others have not. They are all kept in a cabinet and I have not seen any evidence of fading or cracking of the finish. Some, dare I say, are over 20 years old. Come to think of it, one is over 30!

Joe

 

[Tecumsea]

Provided you follow the basic rules, clean and prime your figures before painting, particularly white metal+ Joes' advice above you shouldn't have any problems.

Keith

 

[Ferris]

I would add to the above to make sure you make all attachments, like arms, weapons, etc, 'strong'. Pin everything and use the right glue. This keeps everything together even when you occasionally bump a figure. It also allows a careful cleaning of the figure every few years. The finest dust is rather sticky so it would be nice to be able to clean it with a damp brush. Using a matt coat as protection helps.
Above all, keep your figures in a good place. A glass cabinet is perfect. Glass keeps out a lot of the damaging UV radiation as well, but most importantly it helps against dust and knocking them over.

You could also move to a more suitable climate of course. How seriously do you take your painting...? ;-)

Cheers,
Adrian

 

[Bailey]

A friend was recently raving about Mr Hobby Mr Super Clear Flat. It's great for protecting your miniatures and the finish is truly flat, so watch out for using it on metallics. There are two versions, one with UV protection and one without. I found a can at my local hobby store... but odds are you'll have to go online to get it (amazon for example) since it's a Japanese company that makes it. I haven't tried it yet but I've only seen positive reviews online.

 

[Viesturs]

Thanks for the info

 

[Alex]

In order to protect your miniatures (and any painting in general):
Avoid direct sunlight at all cost since visible light is also responsible for fading of colors, etc.
Reduce to a minimum exposure to light in general (if you're not there, close the curtains, etc)
Always store them behind glass with uv filter added or builtin (regular glass blocks only 40% of UVs)
Go for LED lights if possible and avoid direct exposure to heat
Use lightfast paints
Enjoy them as much as you can, because when you'll die, it won't matter anymore