If decal silvering has ever ruined a finish you were proud of, this unassuming tin is the cure. Humbrol No. 35 is the classic clear gloss varnish — and its most important job on the modelling bench is the one beginners discover last: laying a smooth gloss surface before decals go on. Waterslide markings applied over matt paint trap microscopic air beneath the carrier film and turn silver; applied over a coat of No. 35, they snuggle down invisibly. Gloss first, decals second, final finish last — it's the workflow behind every professional-looking kit.

The Decal Foundation

Brush or spray a thin coat of No. 35 over the areas receiving markings, let it cure, apply the decals, then seal and finish with your topcoat of choice — matt or satin varnish knocks the shine back to scale realism, or leave the gloss standing on car bodies and airliners. This one sequence eliminates the two classic decal failures: silvering over matt paint and edges lifting from an unsealed surface.

A Protective Gloss in Its Own Right

Beyond decal work, No. 35 is the finishing coat for anything that should shine — car bodywork, boat hulls, gloss liveries — and a protective layer over paintwork and even over decorated surfaces around the home. The solvent-based formula dries to a tough, durable film that stands up to handling, over enamel paintwork and other well-cured finishes (as ever, test a small area first, particularly over acrylics or inks).

Brush or Airbrush

Brush straight from the tin — thin coats, as always, and doubly so for clear coats, where thick application shows as ripple and runs. Airbrush thinned with Humbrol Enamel Thinners at 2 parts varnish to 1 part thinner. Gloss is touch dry in 1–2 hours and hard dry within 24; recoat after 6 hours minimum, preferably overnight. Clean up with Humbrol Enamel Thinners. Also available in a 50ml tin (AQ0397) if varnish is a staple of your bench — it's the tin most modellers empty first.