Vallejo True Metallic Metal: A New Era of Metallic Acrylic Paints
Metallic finishes have always been one of the trickiest aspects of scale modeling. Anyone who has ever painted engines, armor plates, or fantasy miniatures knows how difficult it can be to balance shine, coverage, and smoothness. Many metallic acrylics either lack coverage, leave unwanted grain, or lose their shine once shading is applied.
Vallejo decided to break this cycle once and for all. The result is the completely new True Metallic Metal (TMM) range — a modern metallic system designed from the ground up to deliver consistent, high-quality results without compromises. This is not just an update to older lines; it is a fully structured concept with new pigments, a new formula, and a logical triad-based workflow.
The new collection includes 80 shades divided into 20 tonal families. You’ll find classic silver and gold tones, as well as colored metallics in blue, green, red, purple and other hues — ideal for sci-fi models, mechs, fantasy miniatures, and modern machinery.
At the core of the TMM system lies the BSL method (Base – Shade – Light), adapted specifically for the behavior of metallic pigments.
BASE: A Self-Leveling Foundation That Truly Works
The Metallic Base paints are one of the biggest surprises of the new line. They offer strong coverage and unique self-leveling properties — the paint spreads smoothly, minimizes brush strokes, and dries into an even metallic surface reminiscent of solvent-based lacquers, but without the fumes and complications.
SHADE: Adding Depth Without Killing the Shine
Satin Shade paints are transparent, highly pigmented, and formulated specifically to preserve the metallic shine underneath. This solves a long-standing issue where traditional washes flatten or dull metal tones. Satin Shade keeps the surface bright while adding natural depth.
LIGHT: Clean Highlights and Crisp Edges
Metallic Light paints are designed for clean edge highlights, reflections, and final accents. They match the Base tones perfectly, making transitions smooth and natural.
AIRBRUSH BASE: Ready Straight from the Bottle
The TMM lineup also includes dedicated Airbrush Base colors — pre-thinned and optimized for reliable performance in the airbrush. They spray smoothly and consistently, eliminating issues common with older metallic acrylic formulations.
How to Use TMM in Practice
Working with True Metallic Metal is surprisingly simple thanks to the logical BSL workflow:
- Base: Apply Metallic Base for a smooth, even foundation.
- Shade: Use Satin Shade to deepen recesses and darker areas.
- Light: Add crisp highlights with Metallic Light.
TMM performs exceptionally well on both miniatures and scale models — airplanes, sci-fi panels, engines, exhausts, armor, accessories, or cockpit details.
Recommended Accessories from Art Scale
For the best experience with the new Vallejo TMM range, we recommend:
- high-quality synthetic brushes for shading and highlighting,
- a wet palette for better control of paint consistency,
- airbrush cleaner and thinner for Airbrush Base paints,
- a suitable primer — ideally black or glossy for maximum metallic impact.
Conclusion: A Metallic System That Makes Sense
Vallejo True Metallic Metal is a carefully designed, fully structured system for modelers who want premium metallic results with minimal effort. Self-leveling Bases, Shine-preserving Shades, and precise Light highlights make TMM fast, consistent, and extremely effective.
If you’ve struggled with metallic paints in the past, or if you’re looking for vibrant colored metallics with strong shine, the new TMM line is absolutely worth trying.
Explore the complete Vallejo True Metallic Metal range at: www.artscale.eu