Gloss/Metallic paints/effects in 1/35 models

General Discussions General Painting
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A few years ago, I was browsing my local model shop when I struck up a conversation with an older gentleman, who told me, that when painting figures, it isn’t worth it to use metallic paint for metal parts. his reasoning was that, at such a scale, it’s like looking at the figure from so far away (IRL) that you won’t see the glint of the sun off of metal. This came back to me after watching NightShift’s latest video, painting the Sturmtiger. In thta video, he tried using a gloss varnish on the parts that would be metal on the real thing, saying that IRL, paints meant for metals are often glossy.

Now I am wondering, are either of these two ideas true/how do they translate into 1/35 scale models?

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I think the premise is questionable for military subjects – the last thing you need on the battlefield is anything shiny/reflective, whether on troops or AFVs.

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I never use metallics on my 1\35 AFV’s. Unless I’m painting brass\steel rounds. Most metallics are too course for 1\35 scale, or too shiny. The most metallic\shiny I get on my AFV’s is a #2 pencil, graphite. It gives just the right sheen for the scale, and imparts that dull steel color perfectly. The only gloss bits are the viewports.

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