Mr. Color - ocel

A metal steel for barrels, tracks and machine parts

A metallic shade with fine metal particles imitates polished as well as slightly dulled steel. On models it comes into its own on the barrels of guns and machine guns, on the running surfaces of tracks, on exhausts, gears and anywhere bare metal stripped of its coat is meant to show through. It also serves well as a base under the chipped paint technique.

How to handle a metallic paint

Metal particles settle faster and more densely than ordinary pigment, so stir the contents longer and preferably with a stick rather than by shaking alone. It is a good idea to stir thinned paint between individual coats as well, otherwise the metallic effect comes out to a different degree on every area.

What to avoid

Metal tones are not flattened by adding a matte base, because that swallows exactly the sheen the metallic paint is used for. In the same way it does not pay to go over them with an ordinary matte varnish. If you need to calm the metal down, reach for a thin dark wash or a graphite pencil.

Volume and thinning

The bottle holds ten milliliters. It is a lacquer type of paint with an organic solvent, thinned with products of the same brand and applied with an airbrush. A dried metal surface will take careful polishing with a cotton swab, which brings the sheen out further and gives the area depth.

Metal next to a painted coat

Metal looks most convincing where it sits next to an ordinary color. A barrel painted entirely in a metallic shade looks like a toy, while a real one shines only on the stretch where it rubs against the guides or the hands of the crew. The same holds for tracks: the metal shines only on the contact surface, while the rest stays rusty and dusty.