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As a rule we use a non metallic colour as a base then metallic as a layer to give us a brighter and more solid colour. But I was wondering if any of you guys have based with a metallic then painted over the top. I want to some realistic looking scuffs on my sw armour and was thinking metallic base layer over the top then q-tip some scuffs out.

Have any of you done this? Would it give the desired effect?

As a general idea, it's done pretty frequently by airbrushers using the hairspray chipping method (plenty of posts/tutorials on that, which a quick search will turn up). Not sure exactly what you mean by "q-tip some scuffs out," but if you're talking about simply wiping away the still wet paint, I doubt it will give a good effect. Even varnishing between layers and carefully spot-stripping the topcoat with a mild solvent will look no better than simply painting metallic splotches over your main armor color, I'd imagine. The reason the hairspray method works so well is that the underlying layer is protected by varnish and the topcoat sits over a layer that is bonded weakly, allowing physical chipping of the topcoat. Nothing looks as much like chipped paint as... well, chipped paint.

That said, it's worth testing the idea out on some scrap, at least. It might work far better than I expect. I doubt it, but I could certainly be wrong. If you want a tried and tested method for good looking scuffs and chips that doesn't require an airbrush, I highly recommend the sponge chipping method (again, widely covered - a quick search fill you in).