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Hey guys, I've been using the old GW metallic range since I started painting about 10 years ago. I've tried out the new ones: Leadbelcher, Runefang Steel etc and they just don't seem to be as good as the old ones. IMO when I tried them out they were a bit grainy and the overall effect just didn't seem as smooth or as, well, metallic I guess as I'm used to. I know these new ones have been out for ages now but I just had a bit of a moment the other day and thought, at some point, my last pot of chainmail will be gone forever...

So I suppose my first question is, have you guys had the same problems and secondly, if so, are there any solid alternatives out there.

Thanks.

Vallejo Metal Color.

You should also check out Coat D Arms paints. They were the company that did the GW colors back in the tall hex pots, and while the names are different, they are still, afaik, the old paint formulas.

The Vallejo Liquid Metals are absolutely, jaw-droppingly amazing. Like, you will never want to use other metallics again. The downside is they are alcohol based, so you need a dedicated brush to use them, and you need to clean them with isopropyl alcohol. If you expose them to water the paint can actually rust. (it's fine after it dries though).

Scale75 metallics are also phenomenal, and I highly recommend them!

Ok thanks guys, will have to check a few of these out.

I do a lot of painting with craft paints now to save money, but craft metallic paints generally do not hold up at all. Metallics are the one thing I will invest in hobby grade paints for. And I'll second Vallejo metallics for quality.

 Cruentus wrote:
You should also check out Coat D Arms paints. They were the company that did the GW colors back in the tall hex pots, and while the names are different, they are still, afaik, the old paint formulas.

It's worth pointing out though that the Coat D'arms range matches the original Citadel colours, from the very old round pots and the later tall hex pots, but doesn't exactly match the later range that came in the 'bolter shell' pots or the current style pots prior to the absurd name changes... the original Boltgun Metal was a very slightly different shade to the later Boltgun Metal/Leadbelcher, although the difference is minor. P3 Pig Iron is also practically the same paint.

I’all join the recommendation for Vallejo, but also what are you using to thin your paint? Because I find that water really causes metallics to separate, much more than normal colours, so you need to use a medium to thin.

insaniak wrote:

 Cruentus wrote:
You should also check out Coat D Arms paints. They were the company that did the GW colors back in the tall hex pots, and while the names are different, they are still, afaik, the old paint formulas.

It's worth pointing out though that the Coat D'arms range matches the original Citadel colours, from the very old round pots and the later tall hex pots, but doesn't exactly match the later range that came in the 'bolter shell' pots or the current style pots prior to the absurd name changes... the original Boltgun Metal was a very slightly different shade to the later Boltgun Metal/Leadbelcher, although the difference is minor. P3 Pig Iron is also practically the same paint.

Ok, noted. I am looking for something that's as close to the old Boltgun Metal and/or Chainmail as possible so I'll be sure to try out P3 as well. Thanks.

Jadenim wrote:I’all join the recommendation for Vallejo, but also what are you using to thin your paint? Because I find that water really causes metallics to separate, much more than normal colours, so you need to use a medium to thin.

I use water to thin down my metallics but not so much that they seperate. I know there's an art to getting the consistency right for metallics. I have used Vallejo in the past and I found them a bit flaky as well tbh but that was the Gold so maybe the silvery pigments are better? I also tried out the Vallejo air gold which was much better and is now my go to for golds so maybe I'll give the silver/greys a go too.

Thanks.

Vince Venturella has done videos on lots of different metallics including Vallejo and Scale 75. Have a look: https://youtu.be/XxODxALYV8o. His conclusion is that the alcohol based Vallejo metals (eg Liquid Gold) look the best, but they're difficult to work with, so the Vallejo Metal Color range is overall the best.

If you decide to go with Vallejo Metal Color, have a look at these images to see which ones you want from their range. I recommend one dark, one mid, and one bright to get you started (they mix pretty nicely so you can blend them).

It depends on how you paint your metals though. I used to just drybrush or overbrush/edge highlight metals over a black base - you don't need these fancy paints to do that.

Scale 75, it's hands down the best metallics I have ever used, amazing colors in them as well.

Also helpful tip if you don't already do it, for your gold's put down a layer of brown and for silvers put down a layer of grey before you paint the metal, helps out beyond belief

 insaniak wrote:
P3 Pig Iron is also practically the same paint.

I use Pig Iron, gets the job done and is a decent dark metal that you get a lot of for a good price. May look into VMC options, particularly for actually airbrushing metals on larger surfaces.

EDIT: For Scale 75, would Heavy or Thrash Metal be closer to that boltgun magic?

Black Metal mixed with a bit of Heavy Metal. Thrash has a slightly brown tone to it that isn't the same as Boltgun's more neutral silver was.

Coat D Arms have "chain mail" and "gun metal" paints, which should match bolt gun metal and chain mail from GW

https://www.essexminiatures.co.uk/collections/coat-darms-paints

Second row and bottom row. They also carry the old GW inks too.

Tetsujin wrote:
I have used Vallejo in the past and I found them a bit flaky as well tbh but that was the Gold so maybe the silvery pigments are better? I also tried out the Vallejo air gold which was much better and is now my go to for golds so maybe I'll give the silver/greys a go too.

That would be my recommendation. The Vallejo Game Color metallics I tried were terrible - every bit as bad as low-end craft paints. The alcohol metals are supposedly great, if somewhat finicky in their use - I've never bothered with them. Their airbrush range is, in my opinion, the sweet spot. Very fine pigment (they didn't clog a 0.3mm airbrush nozzle at all - haven't tried on my 0.2), a consistency that lays down smooth right out of the bottle, great coverage, and a nice sheen. I've used gold, bright silver, and gunmetal, all of which worked a treat.

 Boss Salvage wrote:

 insaniak wrote:
P3 Pig Iron is also practically the same paint.

I use Pig Iron, gets the job done and is a decent dark metal that you get a lot of for a good price. May look into VMC options, particularly for actually airbrushing metals on larger surfaces.

EDIT: For Scale 75, would Heavy or Thrash Metal be closer to that boltgun magic?

Trash Metal is the darkest (dirtiest) of the two. I used it for my Kabalite Bayonets, looks great.

As for the answer to the original post: Vallejo and Scale75 make great metallics. Scale75 offers a bit more variety in terms of weird colors. Like a purple or green metallics. Like 3-4 shades of copper, I know Vallejo has some coppers but fewer. In terms of Silver, Vallejo has LOTS, Scale75 has a comparable selection. As far as metallic blacks go, Vallejo is a tad more glossy and Scale75 is more matte. Depends on the look you are going for.

Feel free to mix Vallejo and Scale75, I am of the school that says "Use what works best for you.", both are great products.