Info EDUARD

Monthly magazine about history and scale plastic modeling.

Strana 30

GUIDE TO MR. HOBBY’S METALLIC PAINTS
-
JOSEF BLAŽEK
world, as it uses special aluminum flakes
coated with a colored transparent resin
instead of conventional metallic powder. The
result is a deep, brilliant sheen. For optimal
pigment distribution and a high shimmer
effect, I recommend thinning these paints
with Mr.Color Leveling Thinner. The standard
thinner for Mr.Color Series C paints is Mr.Color
Thinner. If you use Mr.Color Rapid Thinner, the
paints will still work, but they will lose their
luster and shimmer. Compared to classic
paints, there is one specific characteristic
to note. Due to the larger pigment flakes,
they cannot be applied with a brush, and the
manufacturer recommends using a universal
spray tip with a diameter of 0.3 mm or larger;
otherwise, you risk the paint clogging the tip.
I tested spraying the paint with a 0.2 mm tip,
but I had to adjust the paint consistency to
achieve proper spray application. The key to
success is greater dilution at a ratio of 1:3 to
1:4 and increasing the compressor pressure
to 20 to 25 PSI. At the same time, I found it
helpful to occasionally “agitate” the paint,
because the metallic particles settle relatively
quickly, and if there’s too much paint in the
cup, you risk uneven color distribution during
spraying. Because these paints are naturally
semi – transparent, the color of the base coat
influences the final appearance more than
with any other type of paint. They are therefore
ideal for builders of Sci-Fi models and kits
such as Bandai Gundam. Modelers specializing
in auto and motorcycle tuning and supercars
will also appreciate the resulting effect. This
specific semi – transparency allows you to
achieve the so – called deep “Candy effect” in
a single step, without the need to spray a silver
base coat and then laboriously layer clear
coat over it. The resulting paint then behaves
like a classic C – series paint in every respect,
including durability.
Aqueous Hobby Color –
Super Metallic (HSM Series)
For many years, there was a widely held
belief among modelers that if you wanted to
achieve a perfect mirror – like metal finish
on a model, you had to use lacquer paints
with a stronger odor, because water – based
paints do not have sufficiently fine pigments.
Mr. Hobby is seeking to challenge this dogma
by launching a new line of paints in 2024:
Aqueous Hobby Color – Super Metallic (HSM).
These are water-based hybrid acrylic metallic
paints that combine the extremely fine and
dense metallic flakes known from the Super
Metallic 2 line. Once dry, the paints do not
lose their luster but leave a true – to – life
metallic finish that is also highly abrasion –
resistant. When working with these paints,
they must be thinned with the original Aqueous
Hobby Color Thinner (T110 / T111), or distilled
water to preserve the low – odor properties
typical of the H series. While Mr.Color Rapid
Thinner is the ideal choice for the SM lacquer
paint series - as it keeps the pigment flakes
suspended and prevents them from settling to
the bottom - it is too aggressive for the HSM
series. As a result, although the paint can be
sprayed (unlike the H series, the HSM series
contains a slightly different acrylic binder that
can withstand even a more aggressive thinner
such as Mr.Color Rapid Thinner), the resulting
surface is rougher and more matte than it
should be for the intended metallic effect. On
the other hand, just as with other paints in the
H series, I achieved even better results and
paint properties by using Mr.Color Leveling
Thinner. I did this by layering up the surface
in thin layers and avoiding applying too much
paint, to prevent the metallic pigment from
running or clumping. I have to say that this
relatively new line pleasantly surprised me
with its quality and the resulting surface finish.
Metallic Paints from the C
and H Series
In our overview and introduction to Mr.
Hobby’s metallic paints, we shouldn’t forget
the basic metallic shades found directly in the
main paint product lines. These include both
the water – based acrylic paints of the Aqueous
series (H series) and the classic lacquer paints
of the C series. These paints are not intended
for creating realistic metallic surfaces, but
they are suitable shades for spraying silver
paint (for example, the MiG-15 mentioned at
the beginning of the article had many parts of
its surface filled with putty and subsequently
sprayed with silver paint). For the C series,
thin the paint with the classic Mr.Color Thinner
and, if desired, other Mr.Color thinners; for
the H series, use the original Aqueous Color
Thinner or, ideally, Mr.Color Leveling Thinner,
which further enhances the paint’s properties.
The C008 silver paint is the ideal solution for
aircraft parts that have been originally filled
and then sprayed with silver paint (such as the
MiG-15 or wings of the P-51 Mustang). Shade
H008 offers a brighter silver color than the
C series. I was surprised by the difference in
the final shades of the two silver paints, which
are supposed to differ only by product series—
this opens up greater creative possibilities for
working with shades on our models.
INFO Eduard30
November 2026

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

world, as it uses special aluminum flakes coated with a colored transparent resin instead of conventional metallic powder. The result is a deep, brilliant sheen. For optimal pigment distribution and a high shimmer effect, I recommend thinning these paints with Mr.Color Leveling Thinner. The standard thinner for Mr.Color Series C paints is Mr.Color Thinner. If you use Mr.Color Rapid Thinner, the paints will still work, but they will lose their luster and shimmer. Compared to classic paints, there is one specific characteristic to note. Due to the larger pigment flakes, they cannot be applied with a brush, and the manufacturer recommends using a universal spray tip with a diameter of 0.3 mm or larger; otherwise, you risk the paint clogging the tip. I tested spraying the paint with a 0.2 mm tip, but I had to adjust the paint consistency to achieve proper spray application. The key to success is greater dilution at a ratio of 1:3 to 1:4 and increasing the compressor pressure to 20 to 25 PSI. At the same time, I found it helpful to occasionally “agitate” the paint, because the metallic particles settle relatively quickly, and if there’s too much paint in the cup, you risk uneven color distribution during spraying. Because these paints are naturally semi – transparent, the color of the base coat influences the final appearance more than with any other type of paint. They are therefore ideal for builders of Sci-Fi models and kits such as Bandai Gundam. Modelers specializing in auto and motorcycle tuning and supercars will also appreciate the resulting effect. This specific semi – transparency allows you to achieve the so – called deep “Candy effect” in a single step, without the need to spray a silver base coat and then laboriously layer clear coat over it. The resulting paint then behaves like a classic C – series paint in every respect, including durability.

achieve a perfect mirror – like metal finish on a model, you had to use lacquer paints with a stronger odor, because water – based paints do not have sufficiently fine pigments. Mr. Hobby is seeking to challenge this dogma by launching a new line of paints in 2024: Aqueous Hobby Color – Super Metallic (HSM). These are water-based hybrid acrylic metallic

paints that combine the extremely fine and dense metallic flakes known from the Super Metallic 2 line. Once dry, the paints do not lose their luster but leave a true – to – life metallic finish that is also highly abrasion – resistant. When working with these paints, they must be thinned with the original Aqueous Hobby Color Thinner (T110 / T111), or distilled water to preserve the low – odor properties typical of the H series. While Mr.Color Rapid Thinner is the ideal choice for the SM lacquer paint series - as it keeps the pigment flakes suspended and prevents them from settling to the bottom - it is too aggressive for the HSM series. As a result, although the paint can be sprayed (unlike the H series, the HSM series contains a slightly different acrylic binder that can withstand even a more aggressive thinner such as Mr.Color Rapid Thinner), the resulting surface is rougher and more matte than it should be for the intended metallic effect. On the other hand, just as with other paints in the

H series, I achieved even better results and paint properties by using Mr.Color Leveling Thinner. I did this by layering up the surface in thin layers and avoiding applying too much paint, to prevent the metallic pigment from running or clumping. I have to say that this relatively new line pleasantly surprised me with its quality and the resulting surface finish.

Metallic Paints from the C and H Series

In our overview and introduction to Mr. Hobby’s metallic paints, we shouldn’t forget the basic metallic shades found directly in the main paint product lines. These include both the water – based acrylic paints of the Aqueous series (H series) and the classic lacquer paints of the C series. These paints are not intended for creating realistic metallic surfaces, but they are suitable shades for spraying silver paint (for example, the MiG-15 mentioned at the beginning of the article had many parts of its surface filled with putty and subsequently sprayed with silver paint). For the C series, thin the paint with the classic Mr.Color Thinner and, if desired, other Mr.Color thinners; for the H series, use the original Aqueous Color Thinner or, ideally, Mr.Color Leveling Thinner, which further enhances the paint’s properties. The C008 silver paint is the ideal solution for aircraft parts that have been originally filled and then sprayed with silver paint (such as the MiG-15 or wings of the P-51 Mustang). Shade H008 offers a brighter silver color than the C series. I was surprised by the difference in the final shades of the two silver paints, which are supposed to differ only by product series— this opens up greater creative possibilities for working with shades on our models.

Aqueous Hobby Color – Super Metallic (HSM Series)

For many years, there was a widely held belief among modelers that if you wanted to

30

INFO Eduard

November 2026

Info EDUARD