The Metal n Alchemy Steel Series is worth buying if you paint metallics with an airbrush or want a genuine tonal progression for blending steel and gunmetal surfaces rather than a single flat metallic pot. It is not the right buy if you already own a couple of good all-purpose metallics and just want one more silver, since this box is built around layering multiple bottles together rather than standing in as one general metal color.
What is in the Steel Series
Scale75's paints sit under the Scalecolor range on the wider Scale75 brand page, and Metal n Alchemy sells as several separate sub-sets rather than one big box, with the Steel Series the most commonly stocked version on Amazon. Based on the current product line, the eight bottles are Black Metal, Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal, and Speed Metal as the core steel progression, plus White Alchemy, Cobalt Alchemy, Emerald Alchemy, and Amethyst Alchemy rounding out the box with lighter and tinted metallic tones. These names were confirmed against Scale75's own product listings and an independent hobby review rather than this site's internal color catalog, since Scale75's metallic range is not yet fully itemized here; that also means these eight are not individually linked to per-paint pages the way this site's Citadel and Vallejo colors are.
Black Metal, Thrash Metal, and Heavy Metal are meant to be built up in that order, dark to light, as a blending progression for shading and highlighting the same metal surface. Speed Metal sits almost white and works as a final sharp highlight. The four Alchemy bottles, White, Cobalt, Emerald, and Amethyst, are tinted metallics for adding color into an otherwise neutral steel scheme, useful for sci-fi armor plating or fantasy magic-metal effects where a flat grey reads as boring.
| Color | Role in the progression |
|---|---|
| Black Metal | Darkest base tone, start of the blend |
| Thrash Metal | Second step, mid-dark |
| Heavy Metal | Third step, mid-light |
| Speed Metal | Near-white final highlight |
| White Alchemy | Pale tinted metallic accent |
| Cobalt Alchemy | Blue-tinted metallic accent |
| Emerald Alchemy | Green-tinted metallic accent |
| Amethyst Alchemy | Purple-tinted metallic accent |
These eight are not yet in this site's per-paint catalog, so they are listed by name only here rather than linked individually the way Citadel and Vallejo colors are elsewhere on this site.
Golden and Copper series are separate purchases
Scale75 also sells a Golden Series and a Copper Series under the same Metal n Alchemy name, plus a larger Heavy Metal box that bundles more of the range together. These are different SKUs with different bottles, not variations on the same eight colors in a different finish. If a search result or a friend recommends "Metal n Alchemy," confirm which series they mean before buying, since Steel, Golden, and Copper do not overlap much in actual color content.
Coverage gaps
Eight bottles covers one metal family, cool steel and gunmetal, in depth, but nothing else. There is no gold, brass, or bronze tone in this box at all; that is what the separate Golden Series covers. There is also no wash or dedicated recess-shade paint included, so weathering and grime on the finished metal needs a separate product.
Who this set suits
Painters doing vehicle, mecha, or heavily armored sci-fi models who want convincing tonal range on a metal surface, especially with an airbrush, will get the most from this box, since the four-step steel progression is built exactly for that kind of gradient work. It also suits painters who want a colored, slightly fantastical metal look rather than a flat industrial one, thanks to the tinted Alchemy bottles.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your models are mostly non-metallic or you only need the occasional metal accent, since eight bottles dedicated to one metal family is overkill for light use. Skip it too if you need warm metals like gold or bronze, since none are included here and you would need the separate Golden Series instead. A general metallic like Leadbelcher or a comparable Vallejo silver, see the Scale75 to Vallejo conversion chart, covers occasional trim work with a single pot at a fraction of the commitment. Army Painter owners can check the Scale75 to Army Painter chart the same way.
Availability on Amazon has shifted for smaller Scale75 sets in the past, so confirm the listing is current before buying: Scale75 Metal n Alchemy Steel Series on Amazon(affiliate link).
FAQ
How many colors are in the Metal n Alchemy Steel Series?
Eight bottles: a four-step steel progression plus four tinted metallic Alchemy colors.
Is Metal n Alchemy Steel Series the same as the Golden Series?
No, they are separate boxes covering different metal families. Steel Series is cool gunmetal tones, Golden Series covers warm gold and brass.
Do I need an airbrush to use these paints?
No, they work by brush too, but the tonal blending they are designed for is easiest to achieve smoothly with an airbrush.
Does the Steel Series include a metallic wash or weathering paint?
No. Weathering and grime need a separate product; this box is straight metallic base and highlight tones.
How does Scale75's metallic range compare to Vallejo or Citadel metallics?
Scale75 leans toward finer, more tightly controlled tonal ranges built for blending, while Citadel and Vallejo metallics are typically sold as broader single-pot colors meant to stand alone. Both approaches work, they suit different painting styles.