IONIC Metallic and Effect Colors

IONIC Metallic Base, Wash and Effect Paints

Explore IONIC metallic paints for miniatures and figures, including steel, silver, gold, brass, copper, bronze, colored metallic bases, coordinated washes, shadows, and aged-metal effects. Create layered finishes for armor, weapons, machinery, vehicles, fantasy details, ornaments, and weathered surfaces.

Collection Highlights

  • Includes metallic base and wash paints for miniatures.
  • Features silver, steel, gold, brass, copper, and bronze tones.
  • Includes colored metallic finishes in red, magenta, purple, blue, turquoise, green, and yellow.
  • Contains coordinated Real Heavy Metal base and wash colors.
  • Suitable for armor, weapons, machinery, vehicles, trim, jewelry, and fantasy details.
  • Includes shades for clean, polished, darkened, tarnished, and weathered metal effects.
  • Individual colors are supplied in 20ml bottles.

Collection Overview

Brand AMMO by Mig Jimenez
Product Lines IONIC Smart Colors and Real Heavy Metal Colors
Product Type Metallic acrylic base, wash, shadow, and effect paints
Bottle Size 20ml per individual color
Metallic Families Silver, steel, gold, brass, copper, bronze, and colored metallics
Primary Uses Miniatures, figures, armor, weapons, vehicles, machinery, scale models, and dioramas
Collection Size 50 metallic base, wash, and effect colors

Steel, Silver and Dark Metal Paints

Steel, silver, black metal, steel shadow, worn metal, tarnished metal, and burnished metal shades provide options for painting armor, weapons, mechanical parts, vehicle details, industrial surfaces, and science-fiction miniatures.

Use darker metallic colors for base layers and shadows, then add brighter silver or steel accents to define edges, scratches, polished surfaces, and reflective details.

Gold, Brass, Copper and Bronze Colors

Gold, antique gold, brass, copper, bronze, olive gold, and weathered copper colors are suitable for decorative armor, jewelry, trim, weapons, statues, machinery, fantasy objects, and historical details.

Coordinated washes can deepen recesses and add contrast without covering the metallic base layer, helping produce richer and more dimensional finishes.

IONIC Real Heavy Metal Base Colors

Real Heavy Metal base colors establish the main metallic tone of a surface. The range includes traditional metal finishes and colored metallic shades such as red, magenta, purple, blue, turquoise, green, and yellow.

Apply a selected base color across the primary surface before adding a corresponding wash and highlight. This layered process helps create depth, contrast, reflections, and visual separation.

IONIC Real Heavy Metal Wash Colors

Metallic washes are designed to add shadows and definition to panel lines, armor joints, chainmail, engraved details, mechanical parts, recesses, and textured metallic surfaces.

A coordinated wash can strengthen contrast while maintaining the underlying metallic character of the painted surface.

Colored Metallic Effects

Red, magenta, purple, blue, turquoise, green, and yellow metallic colors provide alternatives to traditional steel and gold finishes. They are useful for fantasy armor, magical weapons, science-fiction vehicles, decorative panels, gemstones, and energy-inspired details.

Colored metallic bases and washes can also be combined with standard metallic shades to create custom transitions, reflective accents, heat effects, and unusual fantasy finishes.

Weathered and Aged Metal Effects

Darkened, worn, tarnished, and oxidized metallic colors are useful for creating aged armor, abandoned machinery, damaged weapons, industrial scenery, vehicle components, and battlefield equipment.

Verdigris and related aged-metal colors can be applied selectively to copper, brass, and bronze surfaces to represent oxidation and environmental exposure.

Build Layered Metallic Finishes

Begin with a suitable primer and apply the selected metallic base color. Add a coordinated wash to deepen recesses, then use a lighter metallic color or highlight shade on raised details and edges.

Thin layers provide greater control over contrast and help preserve sculpted details on miniatures, figures, vehicles, and scale models.

Color Notice: Metallic appearance may vary depending on lighting, screen settings, primer color, paint thickness, surface preparation, and application technique. Review individual product images when selecting a specific finish.

Application Notice: Allow base layers to dry before applying washes or additional metallic stages. Thinning, brush selection, air pressure, and drying time may vary by project and desired finish.

Recommended For

  • Miniature and tabletop figure painters
  • Fantasy and science-fiction armor
  • Weapons, machinery, vehicles, and mechanical parts
  • Historical and military scale models
  • Decorative trim, jewelry, statues, and ornaments
  • Polished, darkened, tarnished, and aged metal effects
  • Dioramas, terrain, industrial scenery, and display pieces
  • Brush and airbrush painting projects

Frequently Asked Questions

What products are included in this IONIC collection?
The collection includes individual metallic Smart Colors, Real Heavy Metal base colors, and coordinated Real Heavy Metal wash colors.
What is a metallic base color?
A metallic base color establishes the main metal finish before shadows, washes, highlights, weathering, or reflective accents are added.
What is a metallic wash used for?
A metallic wash adds depth and definition to recesses, armor joints, engravings, textured metal, mechanical parts, and other detailed surfaces.
Are colored metallic paints included?
Yes. The collection includes metallic reds, magentas, purples, blues, turquoise colors, greens, yellows, golds, and traditional metal finishes.
Can these paints be used for miniature armor?
Yes. They are suitable for armor, weapons, trim, machinery, vehicles, decorative surfaces, fantasy figures, and science-fiction models.
How much paint is included in each bottle?
Each individual paint in this collection is supplied in a 20ml bottle.
Can the base and wash colors be layered together?
Yes. Apply the base color first, allow it to dry, and then use the corresponding wash to deepen shadows and define recessed details.
Can I create aged or weathered metal effects?
Yes. Dark metal, worn metal, tarnished metal, weathered copper, verdigris, and related colors can help create aged and oxidized finishes.