frosting...... not tasty

[Grimm.]

Okay. .. I have just used purity seal to finish off my model. And unlike cakes where I enjoy a bit of frosting this ain't so much fun.

 

I know there was a topic kicking about here on how to deal with this but I just can't find it.

Please help.

[Bryan Blaire]

Best advice I've seen for this is as follows:

1) Brush the whole model down with a gloss varnish, this should make the frosted appearance go away.

2) Brush the areas you do not want glossy with a brush on matte varnish.

3) Use Testor's Dullcote next time.

 

I generally just use a brush on Vallejo matte varnish, personally. Two or three thin coats painted on.

[Grimm.]

So basically purity seal is a big no no then..

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm just curious as to why it happened. I've used purity seal with no problems up to now. Must have been too much moisture about.

[Bryan Blaire]

From what I've heard, Purity Seal is very hit and miss, it doesn't have much consistency in quality. I'm sure that a brush on matte varnish can be just as inconsistent, but when you add on all the interactions sprays can have because of humidity, heat, and distance from the models, I prefer to trust brush on varnish.

[White Wolf]

The frosting can be caused by a multitude of things (including product quality and the amount of can shaking) but most commonly in my experience by either the temperature where you sprayed being too cold or too moisture in the air (don't know what the weather was like in Northern Ireland)

I have had this problem (with Purity Seal) and Bryan speaks true - gloss over it and then revarnish - it will go away - I personally use Windsor and Newton Artist matt varnish now from Hobbycraft or the Range - does the job really well.

Good luck.

ATB WW

[Grimm.]

Thanks lads. Unfortunately I used gloss. It has not had the desired effect.

 

Strippin' time. Grrr.

[Jacinda]

Purity Seal is notorious for frosting, but any matte spray can do it. Unfortuanatly, I have yet to find a product that can get as flat as Purity Seal

Anyway, in order to minimize the risk of frosting, try these 3 tips.

1. Shake the can. Shake it some more. Have you shaken it for 5 full minutes? Shake it some more. In fact get a kitchen timer and set it for 7 minutes. Shake it, baby. Shake it!
2. Do not use unless conditions are perfect. Too hot, too cold, too humid and (probably) too dry will cause it to frost as will holding the can too close or too far away.
3. Use light coats. If it looks wet when sprayed it is too heavy. You can even use a gloss or satin spray for protection and top with one quick pass of Purity Seal to eliminate all the shine.
4. Don't use Purity Seal. It is the only way to be sure you never ruin a painted model again.

[Firepower]

Yeah, I like the results of Purity Seal when it's behaving, but it can be temperamental.  In my experience though, the only time I've had serious risk of frosting is when 1- the can is nearly empty or 2- I spray too close or too much.  The key word is serious risk.  It's always something I watch out for, and if I'm feeling paranoid about models I'm about to varnish, I (almost literally) slop some paint on a sacrificial lamb, Purity Seal it, and come back an hour or two later for examination.

 

I frosted a Landspeeder I put a lot of work into last year, and I was displeased.  I would have been furious, but it was at the end of a 5 day long 14+ hour per day painting spree, so I was too tired for anything beyond 'displeased.'  It's also why I got sloppy and used too much varnish, meaning it was my fault and not the Purity Seal's.  Someone suggested spraying on a coat of gloss (I have an airbrush) to nullify the issue, but I never tried it.  It seemed like one of those things best attempted on test models before I hit my already borderline-ruined paint job with yet another potential catastrophe.