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Quite a bit of my army level basecoating these days is done with an airbrush, but I haven't yet been in a position where I've needed to basecoat using a metallic colour. The big question is how the typical metallic 'flecks' that make up the colour interact with the airbrushing process? Does it apply as through it was traditionally painted with a brush? Or to the particles go all weird while they're being pumped through and result in some unexpected finishes?

At some point in the near future I'll be thinking of painting my CSM army, and had planned on a core armour colour of gold, so knowing in advance if there are any pitfalls, or if I'll have to pick up some other range of metallic paints to do what I want, seems like it would be a good idea.

In my experience, metalic paints and airburshes are not great bedfellows. You are better off base coating in a non metalic version of the same color, and then brushing on the metalic. But then, I don't even own any needles that are not reasonably fine point.

Word on the street (don't own any, let alone spray it) is that the current GW metallic range has absolutely gigantic particles that are the bane of all airbrushes. Vallejo's Model Air metallics and other metallic airbrush paints are a far safer bet. There's always the option of brushing by hand, of course, but if you want to spray, you may want to look at dedicated airbrush paints - metallics tend to run coarser than other paints, so even a generally airbrush-friendly line may not perform as you might otherwise expect.

If you are going to airbrush metallics, I highly recommend Vallejo Model Air line of metallics. They are excellent. Nice tiny pigment and goes on real smooth.

Thanks folks! I'd suspected the metallic particles might have been a source of problems, so I'll look into grabbing some of the VMA line for the project.

Much appreciated!

I did an experiment that may be of interest to you: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/525173.page

@Ap0k - the new Badger Minitaire Metallics are aces