Citadel paints?

[Monty]

The other leading model magazine recently featured a Mustang build by Bob Downie in which he used Citadel metal-replicating paints to detail parts of the kit's dash etc. They're acrylics, but he said if they're reduced with Future, they flow out nicely (the article's pictures certainly corroborate his story).

Anyone know which specific metal-replicating paint(s) he used? I took a brief look at some of the Citadel stuff online and almost everything I saw was fantasy creature-related, and I don't want to buy multi-packs of paint just to get the few I want.

Have any of you had any experience with these paints?

Edited October 19, 2012 by Monty

[Chillyb1]

I haven't tried them myself, but I've heard lots of good things about them. They are made for the market you mention: the fantasy/creature world. I've seen them sold individually in hobby shops though they are usually more money than I want to spend without knowing what I'm getting into.

I hope someone here can give a good overview and recommend some colors specifically that would be of interest to us car modelers.

[Fortheloveofgassers]

Good morning. I am a model car guy but use Citadel paints all the time for things like leather seats or bringing out detail on a other parts.

I absolutely love for them bush painting. I have not yet tried to airbrush them. I would recommend that you find a gaming store who sells them so you can actually look at the huge amount colors and washes they sell.

Let me know if you have questions about specific colors.

[Monty]

Let me know if you have questions about specific colors.

I went back and looked at the picture in the article that shows the paints Bob used. The lighter color, which I assume he used for the dash trim etc, is Citadel's "Chainmail" paint. Other Citadel paints,especially skin tones etc, seem to require certain colored primers and multiple applications in thin layers. Any idea if this Chainmail paint can be used without jumping through those hoops?

Also, I forgot to look - are these water-based or do I need a specific thinner to clean my brushes?

TIA for any helpful info you can provide.

[Longbox55]

It will cover just fine, even with only 1 coat. It is water based, so nothing out of the ordinary will be required to clean your brushes.

You make mention of "colored primers" for certain colors. Virtally all of the colors in the sytem will cover with one or two coats, with nothing really special as a base coat. However, they do have what they call "foundation" paints, which are to be used as a base layer, then drybrushed with the regular paint, then a wash. Those are really intended more for figure/diorama painting, and is not unlike weathering processes. The effect works very well. But the metal paints don't really need anything for a base, other than perhaps a primer fo better adhesion (Tamiya and Duplicolor work very well with it).

Oh, and one more thing, don't let the fantasy/roleplaying game names of the colors put you off. There's several very interesting colors that will work very well with building cars, especially for interior and chassis weathering, plus figure building. I've been using them for a while now for building custom action figures (mostly GI Joe), and have been very pleased with them.

[Monty]

My thanks to Ed M. and Bill B. for filling me in on these paints. They seem to have a ton of potential for modelers.

[Fortheloveofgassers]

Good morning Monty, I think if you try them you won't be disappointed. I have to pass on one really cool thing I discovered.

Have you ever seen chrome exhaust pipes that have turned blue from the heat as they come out of the head?

This is especially prevelant on motor cycles. You can duplicate this look with Citals blue washes. It is amazing how well it looks if you are going ultimate details.

Hope you can find the paint they are fun to experiment with.

[Zoom Zoom]

I'm 150 miles from my workbench, but the Citadel paints I showed are great for brush painting. They're about the only metallic paints that work reasonably well when brush painted. I thin them with a bit of water or Future. Obviously for better quality, if I have the time, I mask/airbrush w/Alclad metalizers.

I recently went to replace the silver from Citadel and they've changed all the names of the colors. Hobbytown had a cross-reference chart w/the old names and new names.

[Monty]

...the Citadel paints I showed are great for brush painting. They're about the only metallic paints that work reasonably well when brush painted.

Wow, talk about an honor and a pleasant surprise! We haven't seen much of you on here lately, so thanks for your input. When I saw what you accomplished on the Mustang dash using these paints, I knew I had to find out more.

I look forward to seeing more of your work!