Silverpaint? (3 Viewers)

[Wolfgang_UK]

Hi,
I was just wondering if anybody has knowledge of a metallic silver paint that appears to be the shiniest of all paints. I tried quite a few myself and of cause it is a matter of WHAT to paint.
I am stuck with some 54mm toy-soldiers at the moment that need to have some really fine detail to be painted in silver. I basecoated all the areas that are supposed to receive a silver coat of paint with black acrylic paint. I am useing Vallejo Game colour acrylic "Plata silver" and the same tone also by Vallejo as the oil (alcohol) based version. The second seems to be more just that little bit more shiny but due to the heavy metallic pigments it is rather difficult to draw a really thin line with it.
Again I am not interested in shiny armour coats shields or helmets I need a bright full silver coverage ontop the smallest of lines or dots. Tried Humbrol (Hmmm) Oven-paint (ok) printers ink (no) and a few other "bronzes" both acrylic and oil based. Gave metallic "Gel-Pens" a try -
interesting effect but useless for the job needed.
.... Yes I know that the surface will shine even more if you add a second coat on top of the previous coat.
Now dear fellow painters if you got what I am after I am happy to hear from you.
Thanks a lot
kind regards
Wolfgang
{sm4}{sm4}{sm4}

 

[theBaron]

For my toy soldiers, in a gloss finish, I use either Testor's enamel gloss silver, or Model Master Chrome Silver or Silver Chrome Trim (both are also gloss). In any case, I recommend using an enamel for this, rather than acrylics or oils. The enamels are generally thick enough to let you deposit a dot, like a button, or to draw out a line, like a piece of lace or braiding. I know that painters working in matte styles might use acrylics or oils, but they just don't work as well for me as the enamels do.

Prost!
Brad

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Hi Brad,
thank you for your reply. I agree to what you wrote about useing enamels for dots, buttons etc. But when it comes to drawing thin lines
I prefer to use acryllics. I think they are of better use because they can be thinned down better while remaining more controlable on small areas. But the main advantage -in my opinion- is the look after a gloss coat of varnish. Humbrol and Revell enamels which I used tend to turn more into a uniform greyish shade while acryllics remain somewhat more metallic silvery. But than again I did not try Testor or Model Master so far.
Thanks for your reply
kind regards
Doppelprost
Wolfgang{sm4}

 

[beating retreat]

Hi

Have you tried the Games workshop selection of silvers, they do three the first a dark gunmetal colour, then a chainmail shade and a very light silver that I use for highlighting the other two and for officers lace all are very good and can be painted on detailed subjects with the ability to paint thin lines.

Regards John

 

[johnnybach]

There is another old trick for thin lines (which you may already know), but I'll say it anyway - for the benefit of others who may not know the technique. Firstly, paint the background colour and let it dry. Then paint on the line of silver paint and let it dry. Then finally go back on either side of your silver line with the background colour again - cutting in to get the width of line desired. Once varnished, the paint thicknesses disappear. jb

 

[theBaron]

Hi Brad,
thank you for your reply. I agree to what you wrote about useing enamels for dots, buttons etc. But when it comes to drawing thin lines
I prefer to use acryllics. I think they are of better use because they can be thinned down better while remaining more controlable on small areas. But the main advantage -in my opinion- is the look after a gloss coat of varnish. Humbrol and Revell enamels which I used tend to turn more into a uniform greyish shade while acryllics remain somewhat more metallic silvery. But than again I did not try Testor or Model Master so far.
Thanks for your reply
kind regards
Doppelprost
Wolfgang{sm4}

See, I find just the opposite with acrylics, that when thinned, they are harder too control. Too little paint on the brush, and it dries before I can apply it to the piece, and too much, and it runs all over the place. With my toy soldiers in gloss, I find I have better control with enamels, and when painting in matte, while I use acrylics, for some fine detailing, especially when painting eyes, I use oils, right from the tube.

I did just use Andrea acrylic Gold yesterday for the first time, though, and it worked very well. But again, I was painting details wider than a fine line. I haven't yet tried it for that application, but I expect that I will, as I paint more flags.

Prost!
Brad

 

[blaster]

Hi Wolfgang,

I agree with Brad that enamel silvers are the glitziest. I think that varnish applied on top of the enamel silvers will redissolve the underlying paint causing it to dull. Perhaps you can try to apply the silver on top of the varnish?

Rgds Victor

 

[Wolfgang_UK]

Hi,
thank you all very much for your replies. I can not dissagree with anything that has been pointed out by Victor, Brad, John or JohnnyBach but as of my own gathered experiences I found that one specific paint might be used in different ways. I was struggeling with acryllics for quite some time before I started diluteing the paint with a "LOT" of water. In the beginning that did not make sense since the pigments seemed to dissolve and lacking the covering power to create a shiny surface. Useing acrylics strait from the jar/bottle makes them shine allright but as Brad wrote they remain hard to control. I tried to paint my small lines with a heavy diluted mix as if it was a solid black, as expected pigments gathered loosly along the (under-)painted line. By no means a solid colour just very soft tone of sprinkled metallic pigments. Takeing a closer look I found that the sheen was actually quite allright but due to the little amount of pigments the overall metallic apperance was simply not the one I wanted. So I simply used a second, third fourth coat of strongly diluted paint (just like ink) and -tarra- a rather nice metallic surface appeared. Main advantage was that I now could build up highlights by applying more coats at an specific area that ultimatly resulted in a Highlight. Until that moment to me a metallic painted surfaces was to be metallic and gloss allover - no need for highlights - I guess that I was wrong on this one. Anyway it remains a matter of taste and preferance which medium to use. Whatever works best is the right choice. As for myself I got to be mad but the figure I am working on right now has multiple laces and braiding on which I do have to apply 3-6 coats rather than one BUT it is great fun to experiment around and trying out something new. Hope to get it finnished one day .....
Thanking you all for your intrest and contributions
Wolfgang{sm4}