Here's one for all you modelling gurus. If I apply flock and later on use Krylon to seal the mini, will the sealer ruin the flock? I ask because with all the rain in Brisbane I'm not game to use a spray sealer but I need to flock my dudes for Ides. (I have visions of the flock melting or some similarly horrible disaster).

Flock shouldn't melt - it's coloured sawdust, after all.

Static grass shouldn't have any issues apart from matting if you hit it with too heavy a coat (as in slurrying it).

I always varnish over flock, helps keep it in place. Works on flock and static flock.

I always varnish after I have flocked too. As Coersion says it helps to bond the flock to the base.

I advise Testors Dulcote for varnish. I have not had problems with it in over 17 years of use. It is well priced and covers exceptionally. I also have not had problems with it in any weather.

Flock should be fine to be sprayed. I used to use a thin coat of waterdown PVA over my flock to ensure it stayed in place during gaming. Once that was done it's protected from most things. Here is a tip that was suggested to me once. Paint the area under the flock brown. This give the flock a natural look (instead of the bright green that it often has) and if the flock rubs off, it's like a patch of dirt on the base.

I always add my static grass / clump foliage after I have applied my varnish, simply becasue I don't like the little globs of varish that can appear on the tips of the grass after spraying. Clump foliage is coloured foam so the accelerant in the spray may eat into it.

With varnishes, I have started to use a gloss varnish first and then a matt varnish to finish off. This is good on metal models, as they are less resilient to chipping, etc during use than plastic models. With plastic I have found you can get away with a spray of Matt varnish. I use the Krylon varnish and have found it to be an excellent product.

I would also suggest not spraying whilst it's raining or really humid. It does funny things to the spray. I have ruined many a model this way.

Happy flocking / varnishing.

Cheers,

Adam

Wow - that's fantastic advice guys. Much appreciated.