After Maketoys Despotron and MMC releases I've been spoilt and can't go back to flat coloured eyes or lightpiping.

I've heard putting coloured foil inside the head over the eyes is a good way to do it, but I haven't tried it.

Have any of you found a way to do this or can recommend a metallic paint to try?

 

In mini painting, I always got metallic effects by painting a coat of silver metallic paint (anything from shiny bright silver to very dark dull silver, depending on the effect that I am looking for at the time) and then using a coat of ink to color it.

Vallejo makes excellent metallic acrylic paints (water soluble). I used GW inks, but other companies make them.

 

Honestly I use automotive spray paint and works like a charm

Those eyes were clear and dead. The face was chrome

 

No. The prime in the picture

 

Have you tried metallic spray paint? Tamiya makes some nice ones (just make sure they're acrylic). You would need to take the head apart and spray the eyes.

 

Tamiya TS acrylic metallicspray paint is an easy option, and mostly what I do nowadays.

I've also done hand painting using a metallic silver acrylic back and then a red or blue translucent paint.

 

Personally, I think metallic reflective paint with a clear plastic over it would look better for the transformers' eyes.

 

It's what they tried to do with MP-10. But the translucent plastic they used was too thick, and too dark.

But yeah, when done right, it does create a very nice lens effect. Very rare we get a toy where this type of construction can be applied, though.

 

I've always been a fan of how MT Despotron eyes were almost like a Chrome red. Wanted to try and recreate that effect but was too terrified I was gonna mess it up. IIRC you paint it a silver base then a couple coats of the Metallic Chrome Color until you get that desired look. I remember see a YT Video of someone explaining it by air brushing a plastic spoon.

 

Here's a quick one of spray painting results.
Silver metallic undercoat and then I think a couple of coats of the metallic colour on top.

 

Like #CigarJackal, I have had good results by painting silver, and then a clear color on top of it.
Gaming miniatures are great at making paints like that, like Citadel, Vallejo, etc. Go to you local gaming store and see what clear colors they have.

Using actual foil is also an option, and if you are really good at cutting out shapes with an x-acto and gluing them to a tiny little surface, there are colored foils out there.

 

Looks good but if I'm understanding the OP's original post he wants more of a Chrome/Foil eyes than your Metallic look. Best way I can explain the Chrome/Foil look is like a color ribbon used for presents/gifts if that makes sense.

EDiT: Hope this helps! The term is "Mirror Chrome" and is what I was trying to explain.

 

Lighting isnt the best as its night and my office light is low power.
This is a silver back with a red translucent, which looks a bit more chromey

 

What translucent plastic?

 

A simple solution for combiners is Tamiya's metallic spraypaints. They make red, blue, gold, other colors, so you should be able to match up any common TF eye color, provided you can displace the eyes from the rest of the head for easier spraying and avoiding overspray, which you can often do on combiner heads (Zeta, Toyworld, etc)

 

There are youtube tutorials teaching how to paint glowing eyes. Search for that phrase.

Not from Jobby tho. Till this day he remains smug and refuses to share the technique shown in his Blitz Gundam review lol

 

Edit: Here's one done on Warhammer

 

But you were asking him about how he painted Impetus, who doesn't have translucent plastic on his visor.

 

Whatever, got their 3P names crossed.

 

Yeah, I was only really looking at the headsculpt and they're close enough that I wasn't really paying attention.