Matte to Glossy (4 Viewers)

[kogu]

The last two pics for tonight show "The Charge" as it looks so far.
Happy Collecting! :smile2:
Konrad

 

[wadepat]

Hi Konrad,

In order for me to be brief, let me just say, "MAGNIFICENT!" I have watched you post photo after photo of these wonderfully glossed figures and I am deeply impressed with them. As I examine them in all their beauty and detail, I wonder why so many collectors prefer the matte look. Yes, the matte finish produces a more realistic appearance which many will want for their dioramas, but the glossed figures simply jump at you with their brilliance and beauty. Your collection is fast becoming something very, very special and I can only thank you for sharing it with us! You take works of art and transform them into a masterpieces!

My compliments for extraordinary work!

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[aujj65]

The last two pics for tonight show "The Charge" as it looks so far.
Happy Collecting! :smile2:
Konrad

As you know Konrad the Crimean War is my main collection (matt of course) but I have to say these do look rather splendid in a gloss finish. Great thread!

Jeff :salute::

 

[lancer]

What Pat said. Flashy looks reborn. -- Al

 

[kogu]

It's "East of India" this weekend.
Really a shame that this company went out of business. They did quality figures and had some nice ranges, the Shogun series as their major, but also they got into the Boxer Rebellion, Greeks vs. Persians and I believe the Roman Empire was their last attempt before going belly up.
What I have here tonight are several sets of Ashigaru troops from the Kato Clan.
Included in the pictures are the sets SCA13K Ashigaru Arquebusiers, 2 Loading, 2 At the Ready, SCA14K Handing Out and Receiving Ammo, SCA31K Ashigaru Standard Bearers with Battle Flags and SCS08K Kato Artillery/Arquebusier Commander.
Here we go now.
Konrad

 

[kogu]

And a few closer views.
Happy Collecting!
Konrad

 

[wadepat]

Hi Konrad,

Once again, you have taken wonderful figures and elevated them to the status of stunning figures! I think you are going to need to wear sunglasses whenever you enter your display area. The gloss coat energize these figures into a brilliant and glowing spectacle. The detail simply leaps at you and you know you are gazing at something very, very special.

I always look forward to your installments of specially glossed figures and you never fail to deliver the goods. Thank you for sharing these jewels with us. They are truly extraordinarily beautiful.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[lancer]

Konrad, those EoI Samurai look superb as gloss figures. The EoI figures, like the matte Frontline figures, take on a new life when you put the gloss to them. -- Al

 

[kogu]

It was the "Knights of Agincourt" figures by Britains that I started my "Matte to Glossy" converting with last year, because I ended up having two sets of 17809 Henry V and John, Duke of Alencon, so I took one of them to try it out.
Well, you guys know how that went ^&grin
By now I do have plenty of figures from various mfrs. that were never meant to "shine", and I love them all :wink2:

Just recently I was able to pick up the last set of the Agincourt line that I was looking for and here it is, featured tonight in the new finish.
It is set no. 17887 French Knight Charles of Artois and English Knight John Cheyney.

Happy Collecting!

Konrad

 

[aujj65]

Really has brought out the detail Konrad! {bravo}}

Jeff

 

[kogu]

Got two mounted German troopers to add to my "Matte to Glossy" collection.
They are from the Britains World War One line, sets no. 17675 German "Deaths Head" Hussar Charging and set no. 17673 German "Deaths Head" Hussar NCO Charging.
Here they are, and on the last two pics you see them with their officer, which I did a long time ago.
Happy Collecting!
Konrad

 

[kogu]

I added a few Frontline figures to my "glossy" collection :smile2:
First up is mounted Confederate Artillery Officer.
Konrad

 

[kogu]

And, also by Frontline, here's a group of Black Watch Highlanders from the French and Indian War era.
Happy Collecting!
Konrad

 

[Fraxinus]

Hi Guys,

I am thinking about doing the gloss conversion on some old K&C pieces, so I have a question. When do this conversion is the gloss applied with a brush or is it applied in a air spray or can you find the gloss in as an aerosol?

Thinking of using the Tamiya Acrylic Clear X - 22. Do not think that Miniature Paints 2 Gloss Varnish is sold in the U.S. But any suggestions on the best product would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mikemiller1955]

Ken...

I spray mine...but I think Konrad painted his...I can't remember...

I will call you in a bit...

still drinking my morning coffee...

 

[theBaron]

Hi Guys,

I am thinking about doing the gloss conversion on some old K&C pieces, so I have a question. When do this conversion is the gloss applied with a brush or is it applied in a air spray or can you find the gloss in as an aerosol?

Thinking of using the Tamiya Acrylic Clear X - 22. Do not think that Miniature Paints 2 Gloss Varnish is sold in the U.S. But any suggestions on the best product would be appreciated.

Thanks

I use Future for gloss finishes. It's a clear acrylic floor covering, and it's very popular with scale modelers, most often for dipping clear parts to make them crystal clear (it fills all the tiny scratches in the surface) or as a gloss coat before laying down decals (the gloss surface helps prevent silvering caused by air trapped in tiny scratches and other imperfections in a matte surface).

I brush it on my figures by hand, but it can be airbrushed. It's self-leveling, which is nice, and if necessary, it can be cleaned up with a weak ammonia solution (eg, Windex).

It's also a better bargain than buying gloss media made by the model paint companies. A little goes a long way, and you should be able to find it wherever cleaning supplies are sold.

I think the product's current name is "Pledge with Future Shine". Here is an article, courtesy of Matt Swann and his website, that explains his history and its uses in the hobby:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

Hope that helps, prost!
Brad

 

[kogu]

Hi Ken,

I'm curious to see what figures you have in mind to give a gloss finish.

I used the Miniature Paint No. 2 for all the figures I have done, and I always used a brush to apply it.
The MP 2 gloss finish is indeed not available here in the U.S.
John Firth "beating retreat" supplied me with it, sending it from the U.K.

I gave the figures two coatings with a slightly diluted varnish. The second coat was applied once the first one was dry.

Other forum members, i.e. "Dragoon", used the Tamiya Acrylic Clear X - 22 I believe, and with wonderful results.

I don't have any experience with any gloss varnishes to be sprayed on.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Cheers!

Konrad

 

[Dragoon]

Greetings - As Konrad has mentioned, I use Tamiya X-22 ( 2 coats, brushed on ). This gives a rich deep shine to the figure.
If you do any additional painting to the figure, I would suggest a quick barrier coat of the milky white type of acrylic varnish before
using the Tamiya. I've found that Tamiya X-22 does not react well to some acrylic paints, so the barrier coating of a gentler varnish
solves the problem. - Ken

 

[Fraxinus]

Dragoon,

Any suggestions as to the barrier varnish?

Thanks

 

[theBaron]

Greetings - As Konrad has mentioned, I use Tamiya X-22 ( 2 coats, brushed on ). This gives a rich deep shine to the figure.

If you do any additional painting to the figure, I would suggest a quick barrier coat of the milky white type of acrylic varnish before
using the Tamiya. I've found that Tamiya X-22 does not react well to some acrylic paints, so the barrier coating of a gentler varnish
solves the problem. - Ken

Dragoon,

Any suggestions as to the barrier varnish?

Thanks

Sorry, I can't resist butting in--use Future. It doesn't react with the paint under it. And you will get more for your dollar, than you will buying Tamiya's gloss coat.

And it's not simply a matter of being cheap, either. I use Tamiya's proprietary acrylic thinner, with their paints, because I get the best results with that combination. I tried using water and isopropyl, which other modelers use. But as it turns out, Tamiya's thinner is not just isopropyl with some other ingredients, it's a different variety of alcohol. Upshot is, I realized that it was worth the price, for the results.

But in this case, Future is easy to use, can be hand- or airbrushed, is self-leveling, can be thinned with water for airbrushing, cleans up easily, and one bottle goes a long way.

Prost!
Brad