Iron Monger - Obadiah Stain MCP

Process Breakdown & Experimental Metallics

​Set out to tackle Obadiah Stane’s suit with a new metallic workflow to step away from standard acrylic metallics. The goal was a cold-rolled steel finish that feels heavy, oil-stained, and industrial—like a massive prototype fresh off the assembly floor.

​The Workflow:
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Black Prime, Rub 'n Buff & Satin Varnish Seal: Started with a solid black primer base, worked silver Rub 'n Buff directly over it to set down a ultra-bright, real-wax metallic foundation, and sealed it with a satin varnish. The satin layer is critical it locks in the Rub 'n Buff so solvents won't strip it, while providing a smooth surface for subsequent washes to glide into panel lines.

​Pro Acryl Newsh Layers: Applied Newsh across four distinct stages, transitioning from deep blacks into petroleum brown to build up a layer of grimy, organic undertones.

​Oil Washes: Floated black and brown oil washes directly into the structural recesses, hydraulics, and panel gaps to push the deep shadows and imitate heavy machine grease.

​Sea Sponge Paint Removal & Texturing: Used a natural sea sponge to stipple and pull back layers while still wet, leaving behind a weathered steel texture across the large armor plates.

​Acrylic Detailing: Added crisp acrylic pops for contrast, a cool cyan glow in the arc reactor and visor, a hot yellow-to-red gradient on the rear thrusters, and a heat-stained muzzle burn (yellow to magenta and deep purple) on the wrist cannons.

​Weathering Pigments & Base: Tied the suit into the urban street base using dark soot pigments around the exhaust vents and lower legs, finishing off the rusted manhole cover for extra environmental context.