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Does high level, display and competition level painting always have to use NMM technique? And is it ever okay to combine NMM with metallic paints- i.e different techniques for different parts of the model. I’m nowhere near that level yet but I’m struggling with NMM and wondering if it’s necessary to enable to reach the highest levels.

NMM is just one painting style among many. IMHO TMM looks better than NMM, but as always, these things are subjective.

NMM just tends to photograph better under wider range of lighting conditions as the highlights are "baked in". In real life with the actual model in hand, NMM can look a bit awkward as they're painted to be looked at a certain specific angle.

Nope.


I use nmm mostly, but that's because I spent a year learning how to do it properly and now its a habit. I can do tmm but I need to develop it a little more. Should probably try that at some point.

I guess a different but related issue is how to highlight using metallic paints. It ain’t easy is it? I’ve dabbled a bit but always get very obvious transitions with the way I layer. Can you do things like wet blending or glazing with metallic paints?

Jandgalf wrote:
I guess a different but related issue is how to highlight using metallic paints. It ain’t easy is it? I’ve dabbled a bit but always get very obvious transitions with the way I layer. Can you do things like wet blending or glazing with metallic paints?

Of course.

For example, transition from gunmetal to runefang steel would look something like:

100/0 gunmetal/runefang
75/25 gunmetal/runefang
50/50 gunmetal/runefang
25/75 gunmetal/runefang
0/100 gunmetal/runefang

with touch ups using colors watered down with medium .

If you're wet blending, you don't need to follow the gradual mixing. Just make sure to add some retarder or other medium that can assist in increasing working time. Perks of acrylic paint is that it dries fast which ends up not entirely favorable when you're wet blending.

Jandgalf wrote:
I guess a different but related issue is how to highlight using metallic paints. It ain’t easy is it? I’ve dabbled a bit but always get very obvious transitions with the way I layer. Can you do things like wet blending or glazing with metallic paints?

I like to use the ol' drybrushing technique. First undercoat with the darkest metal shade, and gradually add more silver/gold into the mix, drybrushing less and less with every progressively lighter shade. IME the flaky properties of metallic paints complement drybrushing beautifully, whereas pulling off a similar gradient with regular acrylics would look excessively "grainy"

Also, to add more visual interest/realism, I also like to rub a graphite pencil against some of the edges to create a more "real" looking metallic reflection, although this obviously works only for more silvery/grayscale metals. Not sure if there are similar products available for adding such effects on golds/bronzes though..

I have no idea what sort of varnish would be ideal though! It'd really have to be something special to be able to give a protective coat while still retaining the original shininess & reflective properties.

Matte varnish.

Matte varnish will dull the shine, in my experience, wheras satin or gloss will add their own, different shine to the metallic finish.

For the most realistic metallic finish, the best varnish is no varnish, IMHO

I think metallics look better with matte varnish. It takes just enough glitteryness from the flakes in the paint.