Matte to Glossy (3 Viewers)

[lancer]

These turned out very nice. The red and blue shirts really come awake. Like how the darker blue pants turned out too. -- Al

 

[Malcolm Britain]

The figures look superb

Forgive a newbie a couple of questions but ,and this has probably been asked and answered a hundred times before, doesn't the gloss varnish yellow with age?

Also are current Britains and Tradition toy soldiers (ready painted) varnished ? I cant tell from looking.

 

[GICOP]

Got a new one done today.
This time it is a set by Frontline, ACG13 (13" Dictator Mortar and 5 Confederate Naval Crew) from their American Civil War series.
First picture is the original stock photo from the Frontline website, and the following show the set in their new finish.
I think that these figures lend themselves rather well to a gloss finish, and am extremely pleased with the result.
Konrad

You have done another beautiful job with that set Konrad {bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}} it reminds me of my Trophy Crimean War set :salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[johnnybach]

Yet another GREAT example of how a gloss finish can transform a set of Matte figures. I'm sure the penny will drop one of these days to the manufacturers of these Matte figures - that they are missing out on sales to those who like Glossies, by not offering them in BOTH finishes.

Your outstanding new figures, again, make the matte figures look unfinished Konrad. Well done. Just wish they offered them as castings! jb

 

[lancer]

Yet another GREAT example of how a gloss finish can transform a set of Matte figures. I'm sure the penny will drop one of these days to the manufacturers of these Matte figures - that they are missing out on sales to those who like Glossies, by not offering them in BOTH finishes.

Your outstanding new figures, again, make the matte figures look unfinished Konrad. Well done. Just wish they offered them as castings! jb

That's it, JB. I have been trying to put my finger on how good glossy figures look compared to matte. It is that the matte figures look UNFINISHED next to the beautiful gloss figures. It just looks like the matte figures need to undergo that last step. ^&grin -- Al

 

[Malcolm Britain]

I am also in love with gloss finish. The question is why?

A lot of painting is done in an attempt to be ultra-realistic but with the exception of some superbly talented artists who paint stunning faces in larger scales that are almost portrait quality the reality is that most models of 54mm do not seem to respond well to a vast level of detail in matt.

Perhaps it is that,as adults, we instinctively know they are not real and our brains reject such attempts to be "lifelike" as just not credible. When a gloss finish is applied we instantly recognise / know they are models / toys and they come to life in our imagination. Maybe it is the triggering of our imagination in this way is the "magic" ingredient that brings the gloss figures to life (as well as the physical improvements in colour and vibrancy that gloss brings)?.

 

[emilsson]

I'm another fan of glossies and I have greatly enjoyed the pictures.

In general, I prefer figures in gloss finish to those in matte, especially if I see them on their own. However, context seems to play a part. Matte figures look great in a diorama that tries to capture a realistic scene whereas gloss seems to work better for more ceremonial situations. Perhaps it's the sense of a spectacle that a parade brings to my mind that plays a part.

 

[kogu]

Back to WWI with my figures here.
Early in this thread I had posted some pictures of the King & Country WWI German Uhlans, converted to a gloss finish.
At that time the Bugler was left out. It had to be fixed first, since it dropped from the hands of my grandson and received some bending and paint chip to his helmet.
Well, at long last I got him fixed up and he now joins the charge :smile2:
A few pics of the Bugler first and the last pic in this post of the entire group.
Happy Collecting!
Konrad

 

[kogu]

Hi Al (Lancer),
this one's for you ^&grin :wink2:

Another mounted figure from the World War One period.
It is the Britains Set 23005 French Cuirassier Officer Charging.

The first photo is the stock photo from the Britains website, followed by a few views of the new finish.

Cheers!

Konrad

 

[lancer]

My gosh, Konrad, these cavalry came out magnificently. The KC Germans really perked up but that Britains Frenchman just looks like a totally different figure. All sort of detail comes out under the gloss that gets lost when in matte finish. Really fine work. I am now seroiusly considering glossing the 4 French cavalry that I have. They just are so much better looking with that high gloss finish. -- Al

 

[theBaron]

Beautiful, Konrad! The Uhlan especially looks like a piece John Firth might have painted, that's the effect the gloss coat has. Very nice, thanks for sharing these with us.

Prost!
Brad

 

[kogu]

Some more WWI figures by King and Country.
Here we have Kaiser Wilhelm and Paul von Hindenburg.
Cheers!
Konrad

 

[kogu]

And a German Officer along with Dispatch-Adolf.
Cheers!
Konrad

 

[lancer]

More exquisite examples of how the gloss finish emboldens the colors on the figures. Each figure just stands out instead of sinking into the background. Once again, maybe matte finish should be outlawed.{eek3}^&grin:wink2: -- Al

 

[kogu]

Added a new figure to my "glossy" collection this weekend.
It's by Frontline and from their ACW series.
ACP.6 Brigadier General "Stonewall" Jackson.
I think the Frontline figures lend themselves very well for the glossy look :wink2: ^&grin
Happy Collecting!
Konrad

 

[Napoleon1er]

I LOVE the ACW figure, the WWI staff officers are great {bravo}}, but I think the WBritrain's Currassier doesn't quite lend itself to glossy. I think that the K&C ACW Union infantry with the epaulets would look nice in gloss.

 

[kogu]

I LOVE the ACW figure, the WWI staff officers are great {bravo}}, but I think the WBritrain's Currassier doesn't quite lend itself to glossy. I think that the K&C ACW Union infantry with the epaulets would look nice in gloss.

Hi Sandor,
thanks for your input.
I must admit though, that the Britains Cuirassier ranks very high on my fav-list due to the color combination of red and blue, but that of course is a personal preference :smile2:
Konrad

 

[kogu]

One more for tonight.
Another Confederate General from Frontline's ACW series.
ACP.9 Major General George Pickett
On this figure I painted the horse's mane and the tail in a plain black to make a difference to the greyish black of the horse's body.
Cheers!
Konrad

 

[lancer]

Konrad, the glossing of the Frontline figures came out brilliantly. It looks as though the Frontline figures were made to be glossy. They just 'show' so much better with the shine. -- Al

 

[Napoleon1er]

Hi Sandor,
thanks for your input.
I must admit though, that the Britains Cuirassier ranks very high on my fav-list due to the color combination of red and blue, but that of course is a personal preference :smile2:
Konrad

My favorites from this thread (which I follow diligently), are the Britains WWI Germans and French. My principle category of ranking is whether the gloss brings out more detail in the figure, more action and expression. While I think some of this is lost in the mounted piece (obviously, I am not saying it's bad, or you did a bad job- just my personal preference), the expressions of the foot figures are great and lively.
-Sandor