The Vallejo Metallic Colors Effects Set is worth buying if you want a full warm-to-cool metallic range in one purchase, covering everything from bright silver to deep bronze, without hunting down eight separate pots one at a time. It is not the box to buy if you saw the word Effects and expected washes, inks, or weathering paints, because despite the name this set is eight straight metallic base colors and nothing else.
What is in the set
Eight 18ml bottles from Vallejo's Model Color Effects Metallic Colors Set.
| Color | Type | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Metallic | Bright cool silver, steel and chrome |
| Gunmetal | Metallic | Dark cool grey metal |
| Gold | Metallic | Bright warm gold |
| Old Gold | Metallic | Muted aged gold |
| Bronze | Metallic | Warm mid bronze |
| Brass | Metallic | Yellow-warm brass |
| Copper | Metallic | Reddish copper |
| Gunmetal Blue | Metallic | Cool blue-black gun steel |
Why the Effects name is misleading
Vallejo uses Effects as a general marketing label across several of its metallic and weathering sub-lines, not as a signal that a specific set contains ink washes or texture paints. This particular box is straight metallic colors with no wash, ink, or weathering pigment despite the name on the packaging. If you are looking for tarnish, rust, or verdigris effects to age these metallics after basing them, that is a separate Vallejo weathering product, not something included here.
Coverage gaps
Eight colors gives you a genuinely wide metallic spread, cool to warm, bright to muted, but there is no true black-metal tone darker than Gunmetal, and no pale white-gold or platinum shade for painters who want a very bright, almost silvery gold. There is also nothing here to age or weather the metal once it is painted; recess shading and tarnish effects both need a separate wash or ink.
Who this set suits
Painters who do a lot of armor, weapons, and mechanical detail work and are tired of running out of one metallic mid-project will get the most use from this box, since eight tones cover nearly every common metal surface a miniature calls for. It also suits painters comparing brands directly, since having Vallejo's full metallic spread on hand makes it easy to see how it stacks up against Citadel's smaller metallic range covered in the Citadel vs Vallejo comparison.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you only paint the occasional metal accent and already own one or two general metallics, since eight dedicated pots is more range than a light user needs. Skip it too if you specifically wanted weathering or tarnish effects included, since none of the eight bottles here does that job; check Vallejo's separate rust and verdigris products instead. Citadel painters weighing whether to switch metallics entirely should run their current colors through the Vallejo to Citadel conversion chart first to see how close a match already exists before buying a full new set.
Stock and pricing shift on Amazon, so check the current listing: Vallejo Metallic Colors Effects Set on Amazon(affiliate link).
FAQ
How many colors are in the Vallejo Metallic Colors Effects Set?
Eight 18ml bottles, all metallics: Silver, Gunmetal, Gold, Old Gold, Bronze, Brass, Copper, and Gunmetal Blue.
Does this set include any washes or weathering paints?
No, despite the Effects name in the title. It is eight straight metallic base colors with no ink, wash, or weathering pigment included.
Is this the same as Vallejo's Game Color metallics?
No, this set draws from the Model Color range. Vallejo also sells a separate Game Color metallics set with a brighter, more fantasy-leaning finish.
How does this compare to a citadel metallic paint set?
Citadel's core metallic range is smaller and generally brighter and more opaque out of the pot; Vallejo's eight colors here give more range across warm and cool tones. See the full Vallejo brand page for how its metallic lineup is organized.
What is the difference between Gunmetal and Gunmetal Blue?
Gunmetal is a straight dark cool grey metal. Gunmetal Blue shifts noticeably cooler and darker, closer to a blackened steel, useful for weapons and mechanical parts that need to read as darker than standard gunmetal.