Vallejo Squidmar Color Steel NMM Set 74311 contains four 18ml. bottles of paint for steel using the NMM technique. Its focused palette helps you combine shadows, midtones and highlights on miniatures.

NMM means non-metallic metal: you paint the impression of metal with ordinary acrylic colours rather than metallic paint. Reflections come from the placement of light and dark areas. This set contains no metallic colours. Choose one light source, deliberately shape the transition between shadow and reflection, and preserve clear dark passages to create the illusion of shine.

This selection is designed for steel using the NMM technique. Use that theme as a starting point and consider the specific shapes of your miniature. A narrow detail needs different accents from a broad surface. Test the colours on a defined feature and compare it with surrounding clothing and equipment. This gives the material its own character while keeping the overall palette connected across the model.

The palette combines Squidmar Color Final Yellow 74208, Squidmar Color Deep Blue Sea 74229, Squidmar Color Ume Grey 74246 and Squidmar Color Pitch Black 74248. Place them side by side and compare their relative brightness first. Choose the hue closest to your intended starting point, then mix towards light and dark. There is no requirement to use the four paints in fixed proportions. Adapt the mixtures to your character, material and chosen direction of light.

How do you use this paint set? Start with a primed miniature and choose one small feature to test the palette. Shake each bottle thoroughly and place the required colours on your palette. Decide on a base colour, a shadow and a highlight first. Make intermediate mixes before painting the whole figure. This shows how the hues relate on your undercoat and how much contrast your project needs.

Work from larger forms towards smaller accents. A broad base coat establishes the main colour of the feature. Add shadows in less illuminated areas and highlights on projecting parts. Let the layers dry, then reduce the area covered by each step as you move towards the light. This approach helps explain the miniature’s volume and prevents every detail from receiving the same amount of emphasis.

For smoother transitions, mix an intermediate shade between two palette colours. Test that step beside the existing paint. A glaze uses a thin transparent layer instead, adjusting a transition or the colour impression of a surface. Keep little paint on the brush and avoid pools. These methods let you use a focused set in several ways without needing a separate bottle for every intermediate step.

On stone, distinguish several small planes and brighten selected projecting edges. Keep their placement irregular so that the surface does not read as a uniform pattern. For painted steel using the NMM technique, use deliberately placed reflection bands instead. The grey then connects dark areas to light, while the position of the transition creates the impression of shine.

Choose the viewing direction and light source before refining the miniature. A pleasing palette transition also needs to make sense on the model’s sculpted form. Place the brightest accents deliberately. Occasionally view the figure from gaming distance to check that its main shape remains clear. On a display piece, return afterwards to the smaller details and more subtle transitions that reward closer inspection.

The set suits beginners who want a manageable palette and experienced painters seeking a focused colour combination. Develop the technique on one model before repeating it across several miniatures. Record useful mixing ratios and the order of layers. This makes it easier to give a unit a coherent appearance while allowing individual faces and details to retain their own character. A limited selection can still support considerable variation.

Adjust contrast to the role of each part. A face or important weapon can stand out more strongly than an accessory at the back of a figure. Use quieter transitions where the model needs less emphasis. Let the first test miniature dry completely before assessing the balance and repeating the method across your project. Your undercoat and layering choices influence the appearance of the finished colours.

• Squidmar Color Final Yellow 74208 - 1 bottle of paint, 18ml.
• Squidmar Color Deep Blue Sea 74229 - 1 bottle of paint, 18ml.
• Squidmar Color Ume Grey 74246 - 1 bottle of paint, 18ml.
• Squidmar Color Pitch Black 74248 - 1 bottle of paint, 18ml.