Vallejo Model Color Effects Metallic Colors Set, 8 Bottles x 18 ml Review (2026)

Who this metallic set is built for

This set is built for miniature and wargame painters who work by brush and need a range of metal tones, steel, brass, copper and similar shades, for weapons, armor and trim rather than an entire model's base coat. Because it comes from Vallejo's Model Color line, which is formulated for brush application rather than airbrushing, it suits painters without an airbrush just as well as those who own one. It is an addition to an existing paint collection more than a starting point, since eight metallic-only bottles cannot cover skin, cloth or other non-metal areas on their own.

What is in the set

The set includes 8 bottles at 18 ml, 0.60 fl oz, each, covering a spread of metallic tones aimed at the kind of details common on miniatures: chain mail, swords, firearms and similar hardware. Each bottle uses Vallejo's dropper-top format, which suits the small amounts typically needed for trim and weapon details rather than large areas. Being part of the Model Color acrylic range means the paint is water-based and designed to thin and clean up the same way as the rest of a Vallejo brush-painting collection, so it fits directly into an existing workflow without new solvents or tools.

Getting even coverage with it

Metallic acrylics separate more than solid colors since the metal particles settle out of suspension, so shake each bottle well before loading a brush and periodically during a longer session. Thin coats built up in layers give a smoother, more even metallic sheen than one heavy coat, which tends to look patchy as it dries. Keep the dropper caps sealed tightly between sessions, since metallic paints can thicken or dry out at the tip faster than some other acrylics if left open. A small dedicated brush kept only for metallics also helps avoid muddying other colors with leftover metal particles.

Trade-offs against other metallic options

Vallejo's own Metal Color range, including Chrome and Gold, sprays a brighter, more mirror-like finish through an airbrush but needs that equipment and typically a gloss black undercoat to look its best, which this brush-ready set skips entirely. Simpler single-bottle acrylics like Tamiya's X-10 or X-11 metallics are easier to grab for a quick accent but do not offer the range of eight coordinated metal tones this set provides. Full starter paint sets from Army Painter or Vallejo's own Basic Colors line include non-metallic base colors this set does not, so pairing one of those with this metallic set covers more of a miniature than either alone. That combination of a base set plus this metallic set is a common way painters round out a first serious paint collection without buying every color individually, and it keeps the metallic shades grouped together on the shelf rather than scattered among unrelated colors bought one at a time.

Verdict and who should look elsewhere

For an existing miniature painter who wants a coordinated range of brush-ready metal tones without setting up an airbrush, this set fills a real gap between single-bottle metallics and Vallejo's sprayed Metal Color line. Someone buying their first paint set should start with a base color range instead and treat this as a later addition, since metallics alone will not get a miniature past its weapons and trim. Once the base colors are covered, though, this set is an efficient way to add every metal tone a typical miniature needs in one purchase instead of buying single bottles one at a time as each project calls for a new shade.

Frequently asked questions