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Many years ago in an issue of White Dwarf I remember seeing an eldar force being showcased
that was painted in metalic colors, for example dire avengers were a dark metalic blue. Now I
came to be the owner of some Eldar figures and wanted to paint them up in metalic colors but
I have no clue how to go about it the only metalic paints I can find are your standard silvers and
golds, brass etc any ideas?

Suggest you get some Vallejo Metallic Medium. These can be mixed with any paints to metallicize them, enabling you to create your own metallic paints.

Alternatively, you could also mix your existing metals with paints. These will give you slightly tinted metals. For example, mixing Cygnar Blue Base with Vallejo Metal Air (VMA) Aluminium will give you a very nice, light metal blue.

Be aware that mixing complementary colours (such as red and green) will still give you a muddy result, even with metallics added.

I see, I shall have to invest in a bottle.
thanks!

If you want vibrant metallics I suggest you buy coloured metallics from a company that makes them.

http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/list/acrylic_1.htm

They have a metallic blue.

Search for "Gunze metallic red/blue/green". That's what I used to paint my Necrons:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-59981-27484_Necrons.html

If you're willing to try enamels, the options really open up, as that's what model car painters mostly use and there's heaps of options for coloured metallics.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh, and for shading metallic colours, I recommend getting some inks. Most acrylic washes are formulated to leave a matte finish, which looks ok on steel type finishes, but really dulls the colours. An ink will give you shading while maintaining the vibrance more.

Coat d'arms who made the old, old GW line of paints has colored metallic:

http://www.scalecreep.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=2501_2502_2503

Will second what the Skink says.

Colored metallic paints can be done with mediums, but they are done much better with a colored metallic paint. There are dozens to choose from, even without getting into laquers and enamels. If you want to get into those, I would throw a nod to ALCLAD. They have some of the best (the best IMO) effect paints for models, to include real metals and colored metals.

Inks for shading, though be careful. One of the reasons to use an effect paint is for the effect. If you prep sufficiently, and plan your painting, they will shade and highlight themselves based on the actual lights. Dont use a matte finish in the end, as that will ruin it though.

Awesome info guys will check them out

Another way to do it is to paint the colour you want and let it dry.
Getting some GW metallic paint on a palate or plate and then applying water to it. It takes quite a bit, but eventually you'll end up with an oil type shine on the surface. Dip your brush into that and you'll have the metallic specks, which you can then just paint on.

Vallejo Model Air has colored metallics like blue.

You can also paint over silver metallic with a blue glaze or very thinned paint for a metallic effect as well. The method is best done with an airbrush to get a smooth coat.

 Sean_OBrien wrote:
Inks for shading, though be careful. One of the reasons to use an effect paint is for the effect. If you prep sufficiently, and plan your painting, they will shade and highlight themselves based on the actual lights. Dont use a matte finish in the end, as that will ruin it though.

Yeah, good point, you only need a light coat of ink if you use a good metallic like the Gunze ones, as the metallic itself does most the work.

Another option is to do a blue wash and then a very light coat of gloss varnish to bring back the shine, though this is trickier to get right IMO, as too much gloss and it will look wet.