Hobby color - kovově černá

A black with a metallic sheen

This is not a flat black with an admixture but a shade with a fine metallic pigment. Under sharp light the surface lights up into a steel cast, while out of the light it stays deeply dark. That is exactly how worn gunmetal, a cast iron engine block, exhaust piping or armor behaves in the places the crew touched regularly.

A metallic pigment calls for a different approach

The flakes sink to the bottom faster than ordinary colorant, so it has to be stirred until the sediment is completely dissolved, and that has to be repeated during the work. Do not thin it excessively with water, or the flakes will stop lying flat across the surface and the sheen will disappear. Lay it on continuously and in one go; going back over a stroke that has already set breaks the metallic impression faster than any other mistake.

Where the color is used

• Barrels, breeches and metal parts of the armament
• Engine blocks, transmissions and exhaust manifolds
• Worn armor edges and walking surfaces
• A base for later polishing with pencil lead or graphite

You strengthen the effect by going over the surface with a cotton swab or a soft cloth once it has dried. The flakes line up and the sheen comes out. Conversely, any matte varnish laid on top suppresses the metallic look, so it suits parts that are meant to look dusty rather than oiled. Apply washes carefully and in small amounts, because they cling to a metallic surface differently than to smooth paint.

Anyone who wants a difference between the barrel and the mount can mix a drop of brown into one of the parts.