Vallejo’s new True Metallic Metal paints are here, and make painting shiny armor and weapons on miniatures easy with their BSL System.
The True Metallic Metal (TMM) range has landed, and it’s every bit as shiny as promised. If you’ve ever tried to paint convincing metal tones and ended up with something that looked like dull tin foil, this one’s for you.
Let’s face it, Non-Metallic Metal (NMM) can be a patience test. Hours of glazing and blending, and one wrong brushstroke can send your motivation straight to the bits box. The TMM range aims to fix that problem with an easy, logical system.
Here’s the latest on the new Vallejo True Metallic Metal paint, from free tutorials to links to where you can get yours.
Vallejo True Metallic Metal Paint System: Shiny Made Simple
Thier new True Metallic Metals line is built around Vallejo’s innovative BSL System, which stands for Base, Shade, Light. Each tone is designed to work together, so you don’t have to guess which colors will blend smoothly or highlight naturally.
There are 80 metallic tones total, divided into 20 BSL families. Every family includes four shades: Base, Shade, Light, and an Airbrush version. This setup keeps everything consistent, letting you mix, highlight, and shade like a pro, even if it’s your first time working with metallic paints.
The shine is no joke either. These paints reflect light beautifully, giving that polished, high-contrast look that’s usually reserved for hours of NMM work. No weird tricks or complicated techniques required. Just open the bottle, load the brush, and watch the magic happen.
How to Use the TMM Range
Start with your Base tone. That’s your foundation layer. Add your Shade to define recesses and depth. Then bring in your Light color for edge highlights or reflective spots, and finish with the Airbrush tone for ultra-smooth gradients or larger armor panels.
It’s intuitive, fast, and consistent across every color family. You can go from dull to dazzling in record time, and your metallics will look balanced from every angle.
How to Get Yours:
Snag your new paints from our handpicked list of retailers, and give us a high-five in support! Every qualifying purchase helps Spikey Bits keep the lights on and the fun going.
- In the USA: Gamers Guild (so far)
- In Canada: Maple Airbrush Supplies
- Overseas: Angel Giraldez
Vallejo True Metallic Metals Paints: Complete Case
Get 10% off the big case only with code METAL10 from Angel Giraldez
If you’re ready to go all in, Vallejo’s Complete Case gives you the full TMM arsenal: 80 paints, two brushes, and two exclusive miniatures to test them on. The case is cleanly organized, with each BSL family grouped together so you can find the perfect tone without flipping lids or guessing shades.
It’s the ultimate setup for hobbyists who want every metallic option at their fingertips, from burnished bronze to shining chrome. Whether you’re painting Space Marines, Stormcast, or steampunk mechs, you’ll find every metal tone you could ever need, and a few you didn’t know you wanted.
Angel also has a pretty dope tutorial PDF download so you can see exactly how to use them, and how shiny they can look on Warhammer models.
Vallejo True Metallic Metals Paint Sets
Not ready for the full case? Vallejo has you covered with 8 BSL sets, each containing four paints from a single chromatic family. These are designed to work together seamlessly. Grab a set, and you’ve got everything you need for perfect metallic transitions in that color range.
Each set includes a Base, Shade, Light, and Airbrush tone. You can blend between them to build rich depth, subtle highlights, or dramatic reflections. It’s a no-guess system. Just pick your color family and paint.
They’re ideal for hobbyists who want flexibility without committing to the entire collection. Build your metallic range one family at a time, or grab a few sets to mix and match.
Single True Metallic Metals Paints
If you’re just curious or want to test the waters, you can buy individual True Metallic Metals bottles from the range. Perfect if you’re looking for a specific tone for a new project, maybe a bit of Celestial Steel for your Custodes, or Verdant Alloy for those Alpha Legion armor panels.
We grabbed ours to start working on a Hulkbuster for Marvel: Crisis Protocol, and let’s just say it’s begging for a photoshoot under some good lighting. These paints look like they would glow on power armor, but they’d work just as well on fantasy weapons, vehicles, or even display bases.
Final Thoughts on Vallejo True Metallic Metals
After seeing what Vallejo has cooked up here with these True Metallic Metals, it’s safe to say painting metal just got fun again. No more fighting with reflections or second-guessing your mixes. TMM does the heavy lifting, leaving you free to enjoy the creative part.
The Age of Metal is officially here, and it’s about time. Grab a set, grab your favorite mini, and get ready to make your models shine like never before.
