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I got a few metal figures.
I wonder if there is any way I can use the metal of the figure
and paint layer on it to create an ruby or metallic shine
in colors other than gold,silver and gunmetal.
??
I tried using layer directly on the metal
but the metal is very grey and doesn't reflect
enough and the layers are not transparent enough.
Either that or the metal doesn't reflect enough.

Any tips? I am doing anything wrong?

You could try polishing the figure with some toothpaste on a q-tip or some product like Barkeeper's Friend to bring out the shine. As for making it red, red ink might work, but usually inks need something to stick to to really give depth of color.

You might end up regretting it when all the paint chips off the mini and your hard work goes bye bye, though.

Good luck! Post pictures of your results!

Undercoat with a silver coloured primer, anything you paint over metal without primer will come off far too easily.

I am kind of limited in my resources,
I can only get my stuff with mail order.
I already ordered and silver coured primer is not on the list.

I am sure the silver primer would be great.
Anyway am still looking for my camera
but I succeed.

I have stable tin color that doesn't rub off easily,
not when I am using the strip brush anyway.
The color is transparent and it does reflect more than the normal metalic base color.

I don't know exactly how I did it step by step
but I mixed shade with layers and it took a really really long time.
I painted lots of tin layers of paint and had to let them try.
So I couldn't cover the entire model at once
but eventually the entire model was covered with layers and shade
which I used as the base coat.
I then painted the armor edges black.
It does look a bit weird thought.

I am going to take photos,

I'll be interested in seeing pics of how it came out.

For future reference, Gunze make a metal primer specifically designed for etching metals so paint sticks to them better. It's a clear paint so you could use it as the base for layering transparent paints on top.

Personally I'd probably paint a metallic base anyway (over the top of the etch primer).

There are some paints called 'Clears' - Forgeworld, Tamiya and I believe many others have that.

Undercoat silver and then layer with the Clear colour of your choice and done