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I'm looking for a copper-toned paint, and was wondering if anyone had tried Screaming Bell or Hashut Copper (ideally both) and could post their thoughts as to how 'copper' they look and how they compare to each other (pictures would be a plus)? I didn't find a direct comparison between the two online, and it's hard to tell exact tones from the website's swatches. I'm looking for something which is distinctly copper, as opposed to bronze or brass.

I know Vallejo do a copper paint too, so if people had thoughts on that, those would also be welcome - although I am going to buy some GW 'direct only' stuff so figured I may as well get the relevant Gw paint too, while I'm at it.

Thanks!

Vallejo Liquid Metal Copper (the alcohol based paint) is a fantastic paint. It looks as close to real copper as you can get.

This is balthazar gold on all the trim, I've attempted to highlight it (not in this picture) on occasion with hashnut copper and it is only very subtly lighter than the gold.

I swear by Hashnut Copper here. I'm sure there are 'better' alternatives out there but I am quite content with the way the method I use to paint copper.

Spray/base flat black.

Go over area to be copper with a decent coat of Baylor Brown (can be a little streaky, not critical for perfect coverage, just a good coat over the black basecoat).

Once that's dry, hit the area to be Bronze/copper shade with a coat of the Hashnut Copper to taste (If it's well shaken up, and properly thinned, it should cover/coat quite nicely for you).

Then, if desired, use some Seraphim Sepia wash to get into the recesses and help give the copper some depth.

You follow those four steps and you should get results similar to what you'll see on my Vostroyan guard here:







Hope that helps. I've got most all of my infantry painted using the above method and to the same standard pictured here. It really pops on the tabletop with the red, but would be very striking with blue too I think.

Best of luck, and take it easy.

-Red__Thirst-

Thanks, guys. From the two examples above, it looks like Hashut Copper is too close to gold/brass for me. I'm really looking for something with the distinctive pinkishness of copper as opposed to the more yellow look of gold/brass or the brownness of bronze. (I plan to paint some areas on the model in question bronze and others copper, and want to make sure they're distinct). Anyone have examples painted with Screaming Bell?

ScootyPuff, thanks for the Vallejo link. Do you have examples of the final tone (see my above concerns)? Also, can those alcohol-based paints be highlighted/shaded effectively using standard water-based paints (e.g. Citadel)?

 Magos Explorator wrote:
ScootyPuff, thanks for the Vallejo link. Do you have examples of the final tone (see my above concerns)?

Yes.

The smoke stacks on this model were painted with Liquid Metal Copper and given a van dyke brown oil wash:

Also, can those alcohol-based paints be highlighted/shaded effectively using standard water-based paints (e.g. Citadel)?

Yes. Once dried (which is fast mind you) you can paint over them with water-based acrylic paint with no problem.

In a past life I used to use testers enamel paints. (It's what I had) the copper metal color was perfect, I still have it for the off chance I need to use copper. Just be sure you have proper thinner to clean your brush.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
In a past life I used to use testers enamel paints. (It's what I had) the copper metal color was perfect, I still have it for the off chance I need to use copper. Just be sure you have proper thinner to clean your brush.

Thanks, Scootypuff. That looks closer to the tone I am looking for. Not quite as pinky as I'd like, but perhaps that's in part the wash you put on over it, and it looks more copper than the Hashut Copper examples.

zammerak, that's good to know about this other alternative, but I prefer to stay away from enamels where possible.

 Magos Explorator wrote:
Thanks, Scootypuff. That looks closer to the tone I am looking for. Not quite as pinky as I'd like, but perhaps that's in part the wash you put on over it, and it looks more copper than the Hashut Copper examples.

zammerak, that's good to know about this other alternative, but I prefer to stay away from enamels where possible.

It might be your monitor, but the Vallejo Liquid Metal Copper doesn't look like much like Hashnut Copper at all. Hashnut Copper is significantly darker in color color compared to the Liquid Metal paint; so much so that I would argue that it looks more akin to oxidized copper. The Liquid Metal copper is much brighter in color and is as close to the look of actual copper (red-orange) as you're probably going to get.

I have a couple of different copper paints and it is by far the closest.

Does anyone have an suggestions for a HEAVY brown copper? I want to use one, but not sure if there is even one that dark out there?

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:

 Magos Explorator wrote:
Thanks, Scootypuff. That looks closer to the tone I am looking for. Not quite as pinky as I'd like, but perhaps that's in part the wash you put on over it, and it looks more copper than the Hashut Copper examples.

zammerak, that's good to know about this other alternative, but I prefer to stay away from enamels where possible.

It might be your monitor, but the Vallejo Liquid Metal Copper doesn't look like much like Hashnut Copper at all. Hashnut Copper is significantly darker in color color compared to the Liquid Metal paint; so much so that I would argue that it looks more akin to oxidized copper. The Liquid Metal copper is much brighter in color and is as close to the look of actual copper (red-orange) as you're probably going to get.

I have a couple of different copper paints and it is by far the closest.

Sorry, perhaps my post was not clear - what I was saying that Vallejo Liquid Metal Copper looks closer to the 'real copper' tone I am looking for (e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NatCopper.jpg ) than Hashut Copper does (which looks closer to brass, in the examples I saw, e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brass.jpg ). So I think I am agreeing with you.

 Magos Explorator wrote:

 ScootyPuffJunior wrote:

 Magos Explorator wrote:
Thanks, Scootypuff. That looks closer to the tone I am looking for. Not quite as pinky as I'd like, but perhaps that's in part the wash you put on over it, and it looks more copper than the Hashut Copper examples.

zammerak, that's good to know about this other alternative, but I prefer to stay away from enamels where possible.

It might be your monitor, but the Vallejo Liquid Metal Copper doesn't look like much like Hashnut Copper at all. Hashnut Copper is significantly darker in color color compared to the Liquid Metal paint; so much so that I would argue that it looks more akin to oxidized copper. The Liquid Metal copper is much brighter in color and is as close to the look of actual copper (red-orange) as you're probably going to get.

I have a couple of different copper paints and it is by far the closest.

Sorry, perhaps my post was not clear - what I was saying that Vallejo Liquid Metal Copper looks closer to the 'real copper' tone I am looking for (e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NatCopper.jpg ) than Hashut Copper does (which looks closer to brass, in the examples I saw, e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brass.jpg ). So I think I am agreeing with you.

You're right.

I did indeed misread your post so my apologies!