Hi trelane and welcome to the forum. Great help and advice here.

My way is a gloss coat after painting is done. I have used the Tamiya spray gloss and it works fine. Then decals using the microset and microsol. Then another thin coat of the gloss spray. Then weathering and washing if you want to do either, not always needed depending on what your building. When everything is finished a final light coat of matt varnish to seal and protect your build.

What area of modeling are you interested in.

Pantherman