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Guide to Mr. Hobby's Metallic Paints

Achieving a metallic look on plastic model parts is one of the biggest challenges for any plastic modeler. No matter what kind of plastic models we’re building, plain silver paint is rarely enough. The Japanese manufacturer Mr. Hobby offers several specific lines of metallic paints designed to create an authentic metallic finish; however, each product line is based on a different technology, requiring a distinct approach, and each is also suited for a different type of surface. In this part of our article series on Mr.Hobby products, we’ll take a detailed look at them, including all the application tips, so that everyone always knows exactly which product to reach for – not just for the upcoming new MiG – 15 kit.

GUIDE TO MR. HOBBY’S METALLIC PAINTS
-
JOSEF BLAŽEK
Guide to Mr. Hobby‘s Metallic Paints
Josef Blažek
Mr.Metal Color –
Polishable Paints
This line of metallic paints stands out
significantly among Mr. Hobby’s products. After
applying these paints – whether you spray them
or brush them on – they’ll surprise you with
their mostly matte and subdued appearance.
At first glance, you might be disappointed and
expect more. However, the magic of Mr.Metal
Color paints only becomes apparent when
you use a soft cloth or a regular cotton swab
to gently rub or polish the surface. Suddenly,
a realistic, high – gloss metallic finish begins to
emerge. These paints are ideal, i.e., for engines,
exhaust pipes, or gun barrels – in other words,
for areas where we want to depict varying
degrees of wear and polish on the metal
depending on its use. For thinning, I recommend
using the original standard Mr.Color Thinner.
As a useful application tip, I suggest applying
the paint with a semidry brush directly onto
intricate details. Here, the paint polishes only
on the raised edges, thereby enhancing the
overall three – dimensionality of the surface.
A downside of Mr.Metal Color paints is their
lower mechanical resistance. Even after curing
and drying, the surface remains somewhat
sensitive to abrasion. One solution is to seal it
with a glossy varnish, but a layer of varnish
will always dampen the metallic effect. It is
essential not to use lacquer – based varnishes
(C, GX, and GGX series), as they activate the
metallic pigment and thus negate the polished
metallic effect. If we need to apply a protective
varnish to the surface, a reliable solution is to
use a varnish from the H series, specifically
Mr.Hobby Aqueous H20 Clear (thinned with
Aqueous Hobby Color Thinner T110 / T111), which
is water-based and therefore does not activate
the metallic pigment in Mr.Metal Color paints;
however, we will still lose some of the metallic
effect. It is therefore ideal not to apply a clear
coat over surfaces painted with Mr.Metal Color
and to use these paints only in areas that will
not be subject to mechanical wear.
Mr.Color Super Metallic
(Original SM01–SM06 Series)
Before the current generation of paints
was introduced, the Mr.Color Super Metallic
line was available on the market, featuring
shades ranging from SM01 to SM08. The older
line offered an excellent solution for depicting
metallic surfaces and earned a good reputation
among modelers for its mechanical durability
and fine metallic pigment. Over time, however,
the manufacturer, GSI Creos, replaced it - as
part of technological development - with
the newer, now commonly available Super
Metallic 2 generation (SM201–SM212), which
features an improved formula. When diluting
these paints, we follow a similar procedure
as with Mr.Color Super Metallic 2, which we’ll
Achieving a metallic look on plastic model parts is one of the biggest challenges
for any plastic modeler. No matter what kind of plastic models we’re building,
plain silver paint is rarely enough. The Japanese manufacturer Mr. Hobby offers
several specific lines of metallic paints designed to create an authentic metallic
finish; however, each product line is based on a different technology, requiring
a distinct approach, and each is also suited for a different type of surface. In this
part of our article series on Mr.Hobby products, we’ll take a detailed look at them,
including all the application tips, so that everyone always knows exactly which
product to reach for – not just for the upcoming new MiG – 15 kit.
INFO Eduard28
November 2026

GUIDE TO MR. HOBBY’S METALLIC PAINTS - JOSEF BLAŽEK

Guide to Mr. Hobby‘s Metallic Paints

Josef Blažek

Achieving a metallic look on plastic model parts is one of the biggest challenges for any plastic modeler. No matter what kind of plastic models we’re building, plain silver paint is rarely enough. The Japanese manufacturer Mr. Hobby offers several specific lines of metallic paints designed to create an authentic metallic finish; however, each product line is based on a different technology, requiring a distinct approach, and each is also suited for a different type of surface. In this part of our article series on Mr.Hobby products, we’ll take a detailed look at them, including all the application tips, so that everyone always knows exactly which product to reach for – not just for the upcoming new MiG – 15 kit.

Mr.Metal Color – Polishable Paints

This line of metallic paints stands out significantly among Mr. Hobby’s products. After applying these paints – whether you spray them or brush them on – they’ll surprise you with their mostly matte and subdued appearance. At first glance, you might be disappointed and expect more. However, the magic of Mr.Metal Color paints only becomes apparent when you use a soft cloth or a regular cotton swab to gently rub or polish the surface. Suddenly, a realistic, high – gloss metallic finish begins to emerge. These paints are ideal, i.e., for engines, exhaust pipes, or gun barrels – in other words, for areas where we want to depict varying degrees of wear and polish on the metal depending on its use. For thinning, I recommend using the original standard Mr.Color Thinner. As a useful application tip, I suggest applying the paint with a semidry brush directly onto

intricate details. Here, the paint polishes only on the raised edges, thereby enhancing the overall three – dimensionality of the surface. A downside of Mr.Metal Color paints is their lower mechanical resistance. Even after curing and drying, the surface remains somewhat sensitive to abrasion. One solution is to seal it with a glossy varnish, but a layer of varnish will always dampen the metallic effect. It is essential not to use lacquer – based varnishes (C, GX, and GGX series), as they activate the metallic pigment and thus negate the polished metallic effect. If we need to apply a protective varnish to the surface, a reliable solution is to use a varnish from the H series, specifically Mr.Hobby Aqueous H20 Clear (thinned with Aqueous Hobby Color Thinner T110 / T111), which is water-based and therefore does not activate the metallic pigment in Mr.Metal Color paints; however, we will still lose some of the metallic effect. It is therefore ideal not to apply a clear

coat over surfaces painted with Mr.Metal Color and to use these paints only in areas that will not be subject to mechanical wear.

Mr.Color Super Metallic (Original SM01–SM06 Series)

Before the current generation of paints was introduced, the Mr.Color Super Metallic line was available on the market, featuring shades ranging from SM01 to SM08. The older line offered an excellent solution for depicting metallic surfaces and earned a good reputation among modelers for its mechanical durability and fine metallic pigment. Over time, however, the manufacturer, GSI Creos, replaced it - as part of technological development - with the newer, now commonly available Super Metallic 2 generation (SM201–SM212), which features an improved formula. When diluting these paints, we follow a similar procedure as with Mr.Color Super Metallic 2, which we’ll

28

INFO Eduard

November 2026

Info EDUARD