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Looking for a metallic paint quite a bit darker than leadbelcher, a neutral metallic very dark, or almost black. GW doesn't make this so have to go third party.

I see there is stuff from Reaper (Adamantium Black), Vallejo (Model Air Metallic Black 71.073), Scale75 (Black Metal) and others I am sure. I tried to look up examples online but the lightness and darkness of these seems to vary by the photograph, and I couldn't find anything comparing these amongst themselves or to leadbelcher.

Does anyone use any of these (or something else)? Which is the darkest?

Thanks in advance!

The darkest silver metallic GW has is the recently re-released Iron Warriors.

Boiler Black from P3 is pretty dark.

 Ghaz wrote:
The darkest silver metallic GW has is the recently re-released Iron Warriors.

Spoiler:

Thanks, but I need darker than that, that barely looks darker than leadbelcher.

PS - Was out of the loop for a long while, learned about that paint from you just now and just heard about contrast paints today lol. (Before anyone says use contrast black on GW leadbelcher or iron warriors metal, that may work for infantry models, but how would that work for vehicles with flat panels? The streakiness and unevenness of the shade would drive me crazy there).

When applied, Iron Warriors is about two shades darker than Leadbelcher. The picture doesn't really do it justice.

 Kanluwen wrote:
When applied, Iron Warriors is about two shades darker than Leadbelcher. The picture doesn't really do it justice.

I am finding the online pictures for all of these metallic dark metals don't do any of them justice, even on models, as they very greatly depending on the background lighting of the photo. (I've come across pics of the Valejo one that are almost black, others leadbelcher toned, and others in between). A side by side comparison of the different options would be great for all these, but I could not find that online. I may have to bite the bullet and buy like four options from four different companies to compare!

Stavkat wrote:

 Ghaz wrote:
The darkest silver metallic GW has is the recently re-released Iron Warriors.

Spoiler:

Thanks, but I need darker than that, that barely looks darker than leadbelcher.

PS - Was out of the loop for a long while, learned about that paint from you just now and just heard about contrast paints today lol. (Before anyone says use contrast black on GW leadbelcher or iron warriors metal, that may work for infantry models, but how would that work for vehicles with flat panels? The streakiness and unevenness of the shade would drive me crazy there).

In that case, I can recommend Adamantium Black from Reaper

I find Vallejo Metal Color Steel is a good 'metallic black'.

Spoon number 4:

Wow my google-fu sucks nowadays I could not find a comparison like that, thank you.

Vallejo Metal Color is really fantastic metallic paint. Maybe even the best.

I'm not going to post the huge image, but consider looking at this comparison. Steel, Magnesium, and Gunmetal are quite dark. But I don't own any Leadbelcher to compare them with.

Cool thanks everyone, I think I am going to try the Vallejo Metal Color Steel and also the Reaper one.

I would be using a brush, not an airbrush, would the Vallejo one need to be thinned? If so is water ok?

VMC is best metallic set....


But for dark colors P3s Boiler Black is GREAT.

I also have leadbelcher to which I added a good amount of Reaper High Pigment Dragon Black to it. It works great as a proper "base" dark metal.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Stavkat wrote:
Cool thanks everyone, I think I am going to try the Vallejo Metal Color Steel and also the Reaper one.

I would be using a brush, not an airbrush, would the Vallejo one need to be thinned? If so is water ok?

Water soluble.

You also don't need to thin it. The Vallejo Metal Color series is "intense" and covers very well. It is also airbrush thin out of the pot.

Boiler Black is pretty awesome

 LunarSol wrote:
Boiler Black is pretty awesome

I remember walking into the store and looking at it, when it was new right after I had mixed my own custom with leadbelcher and thought.. well damn.. that would have been a lot easier!

In general, the P3 paints are FANTASTIC. Though I hear tell that they are from the same place as the umm.. Instar guy here. Which means if you can get color matched across you can side-step some of the P3 supply issues.

Stavkat wrote:

 Ghaz wrote:
The darkest silver metallic GW has is the recently re-released Iron Warriors.

Spoiler:

Thanks, but I need darker than that, that barely looks darker than leadbelcher.

PS - Was out of the loop for a long while, learned about that paint from you just now and just heard about contrast paints today lol. (Before anyone says use contrast black on GW leadbelcher or iron warriors metal, that may work for infantry models, but how would that work for vehicles with flat panels? The streakiness and unevenness of the shade would drive me crazy there).

I've put my contrast paints in dropper bottles and I'm experimenting with mixing them into my metallics.

Stavkat wrote:
Looking for a metallic paint quite a bit darker than leadbelcher, a neutral metallic very dark, or almost black. GW doesn't make this so have to go third party.

I see there is stuff from Reaper (Adamantium Black), Vallejo (Model Air Metallic Black 71.073), Scale75 (Black Metal) and others I am sure. I tried to look up examples online but the lightness and darkness of these seems to vary by the photograph, and I couldn't find anything comparing these amongst themselves or to leadbelcher.

Does anyone use any of these (or something else)? Which is the darkest?

Thanks in advance!

Start with Leadbelcher or Iron Warrior, and then just add Nuln Oil until it's the darkness you want.



You can see the banner is just undercoated there, that is Leadbelcher.
The armor trim on the other hand which is significantly darker, is also Leadbelcher. Just with my adding Nuln Oil until I was satisfied.

(Wargames) Foundry miniatures> Blackened barrel 'A' and 'B'.

 meatybtz wrote:

 LunarSol wrote:
Boiler Black is pretty awesome

I remember walking into the store and looking at it, when it was new right after I had mixed my own custom with leadbelcher and thought.. well damn.. that would have been a lot easier!

In general, the P3 paints are FANTASTIC. Though I hear tell that they are from the same place as the umm.. Instar guy here. Which means if you can get color matched across you can side-step some of the P3 supply issues.

I'm genuinely shocked he's not been on here yet.

Mix leadbelcher and abaddon black.

Check out Vallejo Model Air Black Metallic. It's a great dark metal color and one of my favorites. Applies very nicely by brush, too.

 meatybtz wrote:

 LunarSol wrote:
Boiler Black is pretty awesome

I remember walking into the store and looking at it, when it was new right after I had mixed my own custom with leadbelcher and thought.. well damn.. that would have been a lot easier!

In general, the P3 paints are FANTASTIC. Though I hear tell that they are from the same place as the umm.. Instar guy here. Which means if you can get color matched across you can side-step some of the P3 supply issues.

Say what?

This would be the first we've heard of it, ourselves and P3 have nothing to do with each other, We'd be interested to know where this rumour started


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If you want a metallic that's darker than Leadbelcher, but isn't black, you won't go far wrong with our Dull Pewter, It still has that silvery tint but is much darker.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

craggy wrote:

 meatybtz wrote:

 LunarSol wrote:
Boiler Black is pretty awesome

I remember walking into the store and looking at it, when it was new right after I had mixed my own custom with leadbelcher and thought.. well damn.. that would have been a lot easier!

In general, the P3 paints are FANTASTIC. Though I hear tell that they are from the same place as the umm.. Instar guy here. Which means if you can get color matched across you can side-step some of the P3 supply issues.

I'm genuinely shocked he's not been on here yet.

It's hard to be everywhere at once nowadays

Vallejo metal color Steel. Black Metal is just too black, imo.