Hobby color - ocel

Steel Instead of Silver

A steel shade is darker and cooler than silver and lacks its bright sheen. That is exactly why it looks more faithful on parts that are meant to look like ordinary metal rather than a polished surface: on armor, on chains, on tools, on tracks and on worn edges. For these purposes silver is usually too pronounced.

Paint properties

The binder is water-thinnable and the surface keeps a slight metallic sheen once dry. On smooth plastic the thinner from the same range proves itself, because it improves adhesion. The metal particles settle according to the shape of the base, so a smoother surface gives a more pronounced sheen.

How to use the paint

• Apply it to worn edges with a piece of foam, not with a brush, because the mark will then be irregular
• Go over the raised places with a dry brush, because that is exactly where metal gets worn
• Under a dark wash the surface takes on the impression of tarnished metal
• Stir the paint, because metal particles settle at the bottom fast

On vehicle tracks it proves best to leave the steel shade only on the contact faces that rubbed against the ground and to leave the rest in rust and dust. A track painted all over looks new, which does not match a vehicle in service.

Where steel helps most

• The contact faces of tracks and wheels that rubbed against the ground
• The edges of tools, shovels and pickaxes on vehicles
• The worn edges of hatches and steps
• Chains, cables and metal handles

For the impression of tarnished metal it proves best to apply the shade, let it dry and go over the surface with a dark wash. A clean metallic sheen looks out of place on a vehicle in service, because real metal is covered by a layer of dirt at once.