Game Color Set - Metal and leather

Metals and leather side by side

The set aims at two groups of surfaces that meet on a fantasy figure almost every time: plate armor and straps. The metal tones carry a finely ground pigment, while the leather tones hold a dense covering paste with a high proportion of colorant. Both are water-thinnable acrylics of the Game Color line, that is a colorant built for small gaming figures, where you work with areas the size of a fingernail.

Before the brush goes in

A metallic pigment is heavy and sinks to the bottom of the bottle. Shake it for a long time, a minute if need be, until the remains of the sediment disappear from the bottom; the mixing ball inside will shorten the work. Go over plastic, resin and white metal with a base coat before painting. Acrylic bonds badly to a smooth unprotected material and is rubbed off every further time the figure is held.

Brush versus airbrush

Metallic acrylics are the domain of the brush. Load a small amount, draw the stroke out across the area and let it become tacky, and only then add a second coat. A single heavy application will leave grooves from the bristles and the grain will clump into blotches in it. The set can be got into an airbrush, but only once thinned and with a nozzle of 0.3 mm or more, because the coarser metal grains will clog a finer nozzle.

How many coats

On a covering ground count on two thin applications, on a dark ground rather three. The leather tones will take a glaze as well: a drop of water extra turns them into a shadow that slides into the engraved folds and brings out the buckles. A wet palette will extend the working time and prevent the paint becoming tacky before you manage to draw it out.