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:
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.
Series D Brushes
Very cool idea with the metal. It reminds me of a car before painting. I guess that kinda sounds like the look you were going for. Love how the weathering and shading especially came out on the back.
Kinda frustrating but this could be good for the TMM challenge going on right now but I think you’d have to re-post it.