Painting with Gold 2: Blingtastic Boogaloo

We done did it again, because one gold paint review wasn’t enough.

Our last review, whilst being a fun dip into the runny paint pot of gilding miniatures, wasn’t quite as expansive as we would have liked.

So with some help from our friends down at https://elementgames.co.uk/, we bring you a much more comprehensive guide to blinging out your table top armies and minis.

Here's a straightforward review of various gold paints, from affordable to high-end, designed to elevate your miniatures.

Whether you're working on Necron monoliths, Custodes, or reconsidering your colour choices way past bedtime, there's a gold paint option for you.

We’ve separated our ratings into five main categories; Adhesion, Price, Ratio, Coverage and Goldness;

Adhesion: How well the paint, (technically the medium), sticks to whatever you’re painting.

Price: How much it costs, in this economy.

Ratio: How much we had to dilute it with thinner so that our minis weren’t a glob of golden misery.

Coverage: How well the pigment flows through the medium onto the mini. Piment is notoriously difficult to get to flow correctly: too much medium and it’ll just run in waves towards the edges, leaving halos of pigment on your mini. Too little medium and it wont flow at all and clump, leaving blotchy, grainy and/or lumpy textures all over your prized Constantine Valdor or Robute Guilliman.

Goldness: How gold does it look. Bling factor is, after all, exactly why we’re all here.

Each category is marked out of 5 and then the aggregate score is determined from those marks.

Let’s get started.

Acryl Rich Gold

The budget big sibling of Acryl Bright Gold, this one promises richer colour with fewer coats—but let’s not pretend it turns craft paint into Liquid Leaf.

It is a decent, warmer gold tone with better pigment density than Bright Gold. Still, you will want two or three thin coats for full opacity. Perfect for terrain, big vehicles, or bulk jobs you do not want to waste your Vallejo or Citadel on.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Acryl Rich Gold. 

Pros: Cheap, warm tone, easy cleanup.

Cons: Needs layering; flake quality inconsistent.

Airbrush Use: Possible with heavy thinning, but clogs with smaller needles.

Practical Tip: Perfect for scenery and big basecoats—seal with varnish to protect the finish.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 3

·                     Price: 5

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:1.5 paint to medium/thinner)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 3

Total Score: 3.4/5: A good budget gold paint

Ammo Atom Metal Gold

Ammo’s metallic acrylics often surprise people. Atom Metal Gold is a smooth, classic mid-warm gold with a nice, even finish if you do multiple thin coats.

It is less chunky than cheap craft paints but not as rich as Liquid Gold or Citadel Retributor. It is good for batch painting and has great consistency for both brush and airbrush use.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Ammo Atom Metal Gold. 

Pros: Smooth, even metallic; decent value.

Cons: Needs layering for best effect.

Airbrush Use: Excellent with minimal thinning.
Practical Tip: Thin slightly and do 2–3 coats for an even, warm gold.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:1.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 3.8/5. An emerging and impressive champion.

Ammo Atom Metal Gold Pink

Because normal gold wasn’t enough—this is for when you want your relics to have a decadent, peach/pinkish gleam like they were forged by Slaanesh himself. Similar to Fulgurite Copper, but warmer.

The metallic flakes catch a subtle rosy shift that can look gorgeous on ornate trim, Chaos weapons, or anything meant to be extra. Just be warned, it needs a solid base colour to shine and multiple coats for real pop.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Ammo Atom Metal Pink Gold. 

Pros: Unique peach gold tone.

Cons: Slightly translucent; requires planning.

Airbrush Use: Very good—smooth and consistent.
Practical Tip: Use over warm bases for best pink shift.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:1.5)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 3 (+1 if you like peaches).

Total Score: 3.4/5. Another great new paint, its warm peachy tone is quite unique and pops nicely.

Big Child Creatives Iconic: Gold

This Spanish boutique brand does not mess around. Iconic Gold is ultra-smooth, highly pigmented, and designed for serious display painters.

It has a gorgeous, almost satin finish with a deep, realistic metallic glow that makes trim work look pro. The downside? It costs more and is best for detail, not large coverage.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Iconic Gold. 

Pros: Fantastic pigmentation and tone.

Cons: Pricey; not for bulk.

Airbrush Use: Excellent when thinned a little.
Practical Tip: Reserve for centrepiece details and final highlights.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4/5. This paint hits heavy and hard. A lovely golden finish that pops great.

Vallejo Game Colour Metallic: Glorious Gold

One of Vallejo’s classic mid-priced options. This is a solid, bright yellow-gold with very traditional vibes.

It is less fine-pigmented than Valljo’s Liquid Gold range but easier to use and clean up. It works well on Space Marine trim, fantasy weapons, or anything needing bright, heroic gold.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Vallejo Game Color Metallic: Glorious Gold. 

Pros: Affordable, consistent, easy to find.
Cons: Needs layering for smoothest finish.

Airbrush Use: Solid with moderate thinning.
Practical Tip: Thin 1:1 for brush layering, more for airbrush.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 5

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:1)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 3.8/5. Vallejo is a stalwart set of paints on any shelf. Good, consistent and reliable.

Tamiya Colour Gold Leaf

An old-school classic. Tamiya’s Gold Leaf is solvent-based and delivers a rich, smooth gold with fantastic shine—if you can handle its quirks.

It dries fast and requires special care for thinning and cleaning, but used well, it beats many acrylics for brightness. Best for detail and panel work.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Tamiya Gold Leaf. 

Pros: Gorgeous shine; smooth application.
Cons: Smelly, solvent-only cleanup.

Airbrush Use: Possible but requires lacquer thinner, so be careful. Or just use a brush. 
Practical Tip: Use dedicated brushes, ventilate well, thin carefully.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:2)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4/5. Old faithful. Needs a bit of thinning but works a treat. A bit bright though.

Citadel Gehenna’s Gold

This is Citadel’s “molten lava” gold—bright, hot, and almost orange in tone. It is perfect for fiery details, Chaos runes, or anything that should look hammered out in the Dark Gods’ own forge.

It has that classic Citadel metallic consistency: a bit thick, benefits from thinning, and really pops over a solid base like Retributor Armour. Just do not expect subtlety—it is unapologetically hot and brash.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Citadel Gehenna's Gold. 

Pros: Bright, fiery orange-gold tone.
Cons: Not subtle; can be overpowering if overused.

Airbrush Use: Difficult—requires very heavy thinning.
Practical Tip: Best as a highlight layer over warm gold bases for dramatic effect.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:2)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 3.6/5. A nice, rich gold thinned properly it's coverage is excellent and finish superb. A little dull though. 

Turbo Dork: Bullion

Turbo Dork’s Bullion is like gold for people who want the most gold. A high-shine metallic that glows almost brassy under good light, it is unapologetically blingy in the best way.

It benefits from their trademark smooth, creamy consistency and colour-shift mica flakes (though Bullion itself is a solid metallic). Great for airbrushing large panels, trim, or making your Imperial Knights look like newly minted coins.

The example images for Turbo Dork paint contains both primers of Retributor Armour and Matt Black, as black is what TD recommend as a base coat. The black base coated mini looks a little less shinny, but the difference is small.

(L) Retributor Armour, (M), TD Bullion Retributor base, (R) TD Bullion black base. 

Pros: High-shine, ultra-smooth metallic.
Cons: Best effect needs multiple thin coats.

Airbrush Use: Excellent, designed for it.
Practical Tip: Thin slightly and layer for best reflective finish.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 5

Total Score: 4.2/5. Turbo Dork takes a slight, early lead, (so far), with its easy to use and vibrant gold paint.

Turbo Dork: All That Glitters

For those wanting something less subtle than Bullion—which, let’s be honest, was already not subtle. All That Glitters has even bigger, chunkier metallic flake for maximum sparkle.

It is best for magical artefacts, fantasy weapons, or showpiece bases. But use sparingly unless you want your entire model to look like a disco ball.

The example images for Turbo Dork paint contains both primers of Retributor Armour and Matt Black, as black is what TD recommend as a base coat.

(L) Retributor Armour, (M) TB All That Glitter black base, (R) TD All That Glitters Retributor Armour base. 

Pros: Over-the-top sparkle effect.
Cons: Chunky flakes can obscure detail.

Airbrush Use: Great, but thin it first!
Practical Tip: Reserve for spot effects or magic weapons.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:1.5)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 5 (if you love sparkle)

Total Score: 3.8/5. Now That’s What I Call Music Gold! Thick and grainy though if not thinned properly.

Turbo Dork: Pucker

Turbo Dork describes this as a gold with a cool, almost greenish undertone—a bit of an aged, alchemical vibe. Perfect for elven weapons or ancient, tarnished relics.

It is subtle in its shift, best seen on larger, curved surfaces under good lighting. Needs a black gloss base for full effect.

The example images for Turbo Dork paint contains both primers of Retributor Armour and Matt Black, as black is what TD recommend as a base coat.

(L) Retributor Armour, (M) TD Pucker black base. (R) TD Pucker Retributor base. 

Pros: Unique colour-shift with green-gold vibe.
Cons: Needs dark gloss primer to shine.

Airbrush Use: Excellent, easy to thin.
Practical Tip: Build up slowly over black gloss for best shift effect.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:1.5)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 3

Total Score: 3.4/5. More yellow than Gold, but it’s adhesion is excellent.

Turbo Dork: Gold Rush

This is the classic, ultra-bright, “freshly minted coin” gold in their line. It is a showstopper under lights with a rich, warm, reflective finish that catches every curve and edge.

Designed for dramatic panels or trim that screams “expensive.” Not for subtlety, but fantastic for fantasy artefacts or big mech panels.

The example images for Turbo Dork paint contains both primers of Retributor Armour and Matt Black, as black is what TD recommend as a base coat.

(L) Retributor Armour, (M) TD Gold Rush Retributior Armour base, (R) TD Gold Rush black base. 

Pros: Super-bright, showy metallic.
Cons: Needs multiple coats over black base for max pop.

Airbrush Use: Stellar, minimal thinning.
Practical Tip: Layer carefully, seal with gloss to really make it shine.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 3.

·                     Goldness: 5

Total Score: 3.7: A great, metallic looking paint, that is let down but how grainy the finish is. -0.5 deducted from the final score.

Army Painter Speedpaint: Golden Armour

Army Painter’s speedpaint take on gold is...well, weird. It is designed to work like a contrast wash, flowing into recesses and tinting raised surfaces gold in one step.

Good for fast batch-painting guardsmen trim or fantasy soldiers’ scale mail, but nowhere near as crisp as traditional metallics.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) APS: Golden Armour. 

Pros: Quick, easy for mass troops.
Cons: Streaky if unprepared, less metallic pop.

Airbrush Use: Doable, but best with heavy thinning.
Practical Tip: Apply over Wraithbone or light primer for best effect.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 5

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 3

Total Score: 3.8/5. Good Flow, needs minimal thinning and adheres well. It’s just on the bronzer side of gold.

Army Painter Speedpaint: Hoplite Gold

Slightly warmer, redder than Golden Armour, but designed for that ancient Greek bronze vibe.

Same speedpaint behaviour: tints recesses, leaves highlights, but not a true metallic shine.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) APS: Hoplite Gold. 

Pros: Good for quick ancient or fantasy soldiers.
Cons: Low actual metallic sparkle.

Airbrush Use: Possible, very thin.
Practical Tip: Seal well to prevent reactivation.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 5

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 3

Total Score: 3.8/5. Very shinny, conversely that makes it’s goldness pop less as its shaded areas are darker. Another solid showing by Army painter in any case.

Army Painter Speedpaint: Glittering Loot

If the others are “serious soldier gold,” this is the chaotic bandit treasure. A brighter yellow tone designed for fantasy loot piles or goblin horde trinkets.

Still a speedpaint—same easy one-step tint effect with a bit more pop in yellow.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) APS: Glittering Loot. 

Pros: Fun, bright finish.
Cons: Not truly metallic, but has a nice sheen. 

Airbrush Use: Works, but best for shading.
Practical Tip: Mix with medium to control intensity.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 5

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4/5. A warm gold that pops well, adheres well and needs little thinning. Stand out best gold from Army Painter amongst the trio we reviewed.

AK Metallic: Rusty Gold

AK’s Rusty Gold is designed for painters who want their gold to look ancient, corroded, and frankly a little suspect—like it’s been looted from a tomb and might be cursed.

It has a darker, almost coppery undertone with subtle orange-brown shading built in. Great for steampunk, Chaos relics, or Mechanicus relic plating.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) AK: Rusty Gold. 

Pros: Great aged/corroded effect straight from the bottle.
Cons: Not bright or reflective; niche use.

Airbrush Use: Smooth, easy with slight thinning.
Practical Tip: Shade with brown or black washes for even more corrosion.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 2

Total Score: 3.8/5. It’s a great paint to work with and is excellent within its niche applications for trim, spot highlights and accents. But as a centrepiece gold its severely lacking.

AK Metallic: Old Gold

AK’s Old Gold is their “traditional heirloom” tone. A muted, classy gold that avoids cartoonish brightness in favour of realistic antique vibes.

Great for imperial relics, ancient regalia, or anything meant to look dignified. Covers nicely in one or two coats.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) AK: Old Gold. 

Pros: Excellent coverage, muted realism.
Cons: Less pop than bright golds.

Airbrush Use: Excellent; designed for easy spraying.
Practical Tip: Use on large trim areas to tone down flashy schemes.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 3

Total Score: 4/5. Am excellent comeback by AK, a good, vibrant gold paint.

AK Metallic: Gold

The straight-up “AK Gold” is their bright, classic metallic with good shine and warm yellow-gold finish.

It’s reliable, good for bulk painting, and sits between craft paint and premium hobby brands in terms of price and finish.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) AK: Gold. 

Pros: Smooth, classic gold tone.
Cons: Needs a couple of coats for best effect.

Airbrush Use: Excellent, low-thin ratio.
Practical Tip: Thin slightly for layering; seal for extra shine.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4.2/5. A rich, shinny and vibrant gold paint. Brighter than Retributor Armour but doesn’t over saturate. A clear front runner.

Scale75 Metal n' Alchemy: Elven Gold

Scale75’s Metal n' Alchemy line is basically a love letter to display painters. Elven Gold is a slightly greenish, pale gold perfect for subtle, ethereal, or arcane detail.

Incredibly fine metallic pigment means beautiful layering potential without obscuring detail.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) MnA: Elven Gold. 

Pros: Super-fine pigment, smooth layering.
Cons: Expensive; niche tone.

Airbrush Use: Fantastic with minimal thinning.
Practical Tip: Use for final highlights or delicate trim.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4/5. A smidge less sparkly that AK’s Gold, but a lovely sheen nonetheless and good coverage. Excellent option for etheric golden effects with it’s slightly greenish mid tone.

Scale75 Metal n' Alchemy: Dwarven Gold

This is their classic warm, rich gold—slightly darker and more reddish than Elven Gold. Perfect for treasure piles, ornate dwarf armour, and Warhammer artefacts.

Excellent pigment, great for layering or one-coat detail if applied carefully.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) MnA: Dwarven Gold. 

Pros: Rich, warm tone with great coverage.
Cons: Pricey for large surfaces.

Airbrush Use: Stellar—easy and smooth.
Practical Tip: Works best over black or dark brown primers.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 5

·                     Goldness: 5

Total Score: 4.4/5. I do like me some Dwarven G!. Taking the lead just past the halfway point is a gold so buttery, rich and smooth that Smaug will be smashing through our doors at ay moment. A hint of bronze makes for a deep, saturated gold paint that really shines and pops on your minis.

Scale75 Metal n' Alchemy: Viking Gold

Warmer and much darker than Dwarven Gold, this is the conqueror’s choice: bold, punchy metallic with muted reflectivity.

It has less red warmth but more neutral brilliance. Great for regal trim, shields, and weapons.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) MnA: Viking Gold. 

Pros: Bright, even finish; super-fine metallic flake.
Cons: Slightly more transparent than Dwarven Gold.

Airbrush Use: Excellent—just a bit of thinner.
Practical Tip: Thin carefully, build up in layers for best depth.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 3

Total Score: 3.8/5. A solid, easy paint to work with, however it’s very dark. An ancient gold that would be fantastic as trim on warriors fighting the long war or as weathered icons.

Vallejo Model Air Metallic: Gold

Designed for airbrushes straight from the bottle, this is Vallejo’s workhorse metallic gold for big projects and smooth gradients.

Excellent for vehicles, trim, and large units without losing detail. Not the brightest gold but very consistent and even.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Vallejo Model Air; Metallic Gold. 

Pros: Airbrush-ready, reliable finish.
Cons: Slightly muted compared to brighter brands.

Airbrush Use: Absolutely—it’s what it’s for.
Practical Tip: Apply over gloss black for extra depth.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 5 (1:0)

·                     Coverage: 5

·                     Goldness: 3

Total Score: 4/5. Vallejo scores another home run with their made for airbrush gold paint. It’s bright, shines great, flows brilliantly and sticks like glue for the 1 or 2 coat and done finish. Just a little muted in it’s over all presentation compared to Retributor Armour.

Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats: Heirloom Gold

Designed by the man himself for his Two Thin Coats system. Heirloom Gold is a rich, bright, warm metallic that sits between Retributor Armour and Auric Armour Gold in tone.

Smooth, easy to thin, and designed for layering, it works brilliantly for beginners and veterans alike.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Duncan Rhodes: Heirloom Gold. 

Pros: Gorgeous classic gold tone; perfect consistency.
Cons: A bit pricier than mainstream brands.

Airbrush Use: Very good with a little thinning.
Practical Tip: Use two thin coats (obviously) for even, gleaming finish.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 5

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4.4/5. Mr Rhodes knocks it out of the park with this rich, darker toned gold that screams riches and luxury. Excellent coverage and pigment distribution so you can spray away without a care. Lovely Jubley.

Vallejo Liquid Gold: Gold

The OG real-metal pigment alcohol-based classic. This is the choice for ultimate mirror-bright traditional gold.

Absurdly fine flake, unbeatable shine, but needs isopropyl alcohol and brush-destroying discipline.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Vallejo Liquid Gold: Gold. 

Pros: Best-in-class brilliance.
Cons: Solvent-based hassle.

Airbrush Use: No—do not try it.
Practical Tip: Thin with isopropyl if needed, clean immediately, use cheap brushes.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 2 (not for airbrush usage)

·                     Coverage: 5

·                     Goldness: 5

Total Score: 4.2/5. What’s more to say about Vallejo’s Liquid Gold line at this stage? It’s the gold standard, (no pun intended), of gold paints available today. Let down by it’s ability to kill airbrushes dead.

Vallejo Liquid Gold: Green Gold

Same absurd shine, but with a unique greenish undertone that gives it an antique, almost regal vibe.

Excellent for aged relics, baroque trim, and making your Custodes look like they plundered half the galaxy.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Vallejo Liquid Gold: Green Gold. 

Pros: Unique tone, brilliant metallic.
Cons: Same solvent drama as other Liquid Golds.

Airbrush Use: Don’t even think about it.
Practical Tip: Layer over dark bases for real depth.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 2 (not for airbrush usage)

·                     Coverage: 5

·                     Goldness: 3.5

Total Score: 3.9/5. A good showing from Vallejo, and definitely has applications for lighter golds and trim. The green tint makes it more yellowish than gold.

Vallejo Liquid Gold: Old Gold

A darker, deeper shade with rich warmth—perfect for ancient imperial relics or fancy baroque icons.

Same one-coat, mirror-shine brilliance that punishes unprepared brushes with righteous fury.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Vallejo Liquid Gold: Old Gold. 

Pros: Unmatched shine with rich antique tone.
Cons: Clean up or cry.

Airbrush Use: You’ll ruin it. Don’t.
Practical Tip: Shake constantly to keep pigment suspended.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 2 (not for airbrush usage)

·                     Coverage: 5

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4/5. Luxurious gold paint, and another brilliant outing from Vallejo. Bright, crisp and shiny. Perhaps a bit too shiny for a centrepiece but fantastic for trim and accents. 

Vallejo's Liquid gold trio side-by-side: (L) Green Gold, (M) Old Gold, (R) Gold.

Turbo Dork: Bee’s Knees

Bee’s Knees is Turbo Dork’s ultra-bright, warm honey-gold with a subtle shift that catches light like actual polished treasure. It is less extreme than some of their wilder shifts but offers a really luminous, rich metallic that’s perfect for baroque armour, fantasy weapons, or Necron trim.

This one is beginner-friendly for the Turbo Dork range and rewards even brush application with a reliable glow.

Both black and Retributor Armour base coats were used in this test, and the results speak for themselves; even though TD recommend you use a black base coat to best see the shimmer effects of their paints, it does look much better with a RA basecoat.

Even then Bee’s Knees looks more like a shiny yellow than proper gold. It does pop though.

(L) Retributor Armour, (M) RA base coat, (R) black base coat. 

Pros: Rich, light yellow with subtle shift—very usable.
Cons: Needs a black gloss undercoat for max effect, but that dulls the overall aesthetic.

Airbrush Use: Fantastic with thinning.
Practical Tip: Use multiple thin coats over black gloss for glow best shift. Retributor Armour or similar basecoat for more thorough painting.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 3

·                     Ratio: 3 (1:1.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 3

Total Score: 3.4/5. A nice, rich shiny, glittering yellow. On a black basecoat it has more of a slightly green tint to it.

Army Painter Air Metallic: Greedy Gold

Army Painter’s Greedy Gold has long been their go-to bright, warm gold for brush painting, and this Air Metallic version is pre-thinned for your airbrush.

It sprays straight from the bottle, delivering even, consistent coverage without fuss. The colour is a classic, vivid gold—great for Space Marine trim, fantasy shields, or vehicles. It is designed for easy mass-painting without sacrificing too much shine.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Army Painter Air: Greedy Gold. 

Pros: Airbrush-ready, solid bright gold.
Cons: Slightly less fine metallic flake than premium brands.

Airbrush Use: Excellent straight from the bottle. Made for airbrushing.
Practical Tip: Perfect for batch-coating trim or big panels quickly and evenly.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4.2/5. A very nice, rich, bright, sparkling gold. Comes out a little thick and needs a little thinning so as not to obscure fine details but a sold effort by Army Painter.

Army Painter Air Metallic: Bright Gold

Bright Gold is Army Painter’s lighter, slightly cooler-toned metallic gold in their Air line. This one is for when you want your trim or relics to pop just a bit more vibrantly, with a shinier, more yellow-gold finish.

Excellent for highlighting over Greedy Gold or for painting more regal, high-fantasy details.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) Army Painter Air: Bright Gold. 

Pros: Vibrant, high-shine gold.
Cons: Slightly thinner pigmentation than top-tier brands.

Airbrush Use: Excellent straight from the bottle.
Practical Tip: Layer over Greedy Gold for subtle highlights and tonal variation.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4.2/5. Another great effort by Army Painter Air Metallics. Good shine and lustre, great coverage and not too thick straight out of the bottle, needing just a little thinning to flow nicely.

Humbrol Gen 3 Metallic Gold

Humbrol’s Gen 3 Acrylic line is their push into modern, water-based, hobby-friendly paint—and their Metallic Gold is a solid, no-fuss, old-school modeler’s classic in a new formula.

It has a warm, even tone that’s reliable for brushwork on details, panels, and trim. Coverage is decent in 1–2 coats if you thin it right, and it behaves like a traditional hobby paint without any fancy colour-shift or solvent drama. It is not Liquid Leaf, but it is dependable and easy to find.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R)Humbrol Metallic Gold. 

Pros: Affordable, consistent, classic.
Cons: Slightly grainier finish than premium hobby brands.

Airbrush Use: Works with thinning but needs straining to avoid clogs.
Practical Tip: Great for budget-conscious projects and large armies—thin carefully and apply in smooth layers.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 5

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 2

Total Score: 3.8/5. It flows great, needs little thinning, sticks wells and covers great. The only problem: it looks more khaki or ochre that gold. It does have a shine and some lustre but its very muted and doesn’t pop very well. It would be GREAT as a solid sand-ish colour and texture.

Green Stuff World Chrome Metal: Antique Gold

This paint is peak Green Stuff World, designed to deliver a super-reflective, almost mirror-like metallic finish with a light gold tone. Think polished treasure recovered from a tomb, or a Chaos relic too proud to rust.

It is ridiculously shiny if you apply it over gloss black, giving you near-chrome reflectivity with an antique bronze-gold warmth. It is fussy, though: it demands smooth priming, thin coats, and gentle handling to avoid marring the finish.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) GSW Chrome Metal: Antique Gold. 

Pros: Super-shiny, near-chrome finish with antique vibe.
Cons: Demands prep and perfect base to work. It’s alcohol based to thin with isopropyl alcohol.

Airbrush Use: Nope. The alcohol base will eat your airbrush’s rubber seals for breakfast.
Practical Tip: Always use over gloss black and seal with clear gloss for maximum reflectivity.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 4

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (alcohol base)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4/5. It’s the alcohol base that prevents airbrush use that really marks this down a little but puts it into the same category as Vallego’s Liquid and Liquid Leaf’s Florentine. Solid and flows like butter. A mirror sheen finish that screams “I have golden toilets too”.

Green Stuff World Colorshift Metal: Mystic Gold

Mystic Gold is for painters who think “ordinary gold” is for peasants. This colourshift metallic goes from a warm, reddish gold to greenish antique tones under changing light, giving magical, arcane, or eldritch vibes.

It is built for drama—perfect for daemon weapons, enchanted armour, or anything that should look unnatural. Needs a glossy black base to unlock its full effect and really benefits from patient, thin layering to avoid streaks.

(L) Retributor Armour, (R) GSW Colorshift Metal: Mystic Gold. 

Pros: Stunning multi-tone shift effect, unique palette.
Cons: Needs perfect prep and multiple coats.

Airbrush Use: Excellent with minimal thinning for smooth blends.
Practical Tip: Build up slowly over gloss black primer for maximum colour-shift drama.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 4

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 3

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4/5. A yellow toned, shiny gold paint that pops for all the right reasons. A bit grainy in its finish and as it needs a couple of thin coats.  

Metis Minis Metallics: Metis Gold Armour

The in-house pride of the Metis Minis line! Metis Gold Armour is designed to be a workhorse gold with good single-coat coverage, a strong classic gold tone, and forgiving application for batch painting whole armies.

It strikes a balance between affordability and quality, with a smooth consistency that works well for both brush and airbrush when thinned. It may not be Liquid Leaf levels of brilliance, but it is perfect for everyday warriors, tanks, and scenery.

(L) Retributor Armour, (M) & (R) Metis Minis: Metis Gold Armour. 

Pros: Affordable, consistent, good single-coat coverage.
Cons: Slightly less metallic brilliance than premium brands like Vallego or Liquid Leaf.

Airbrush Use: Very good with mild thinning.
Practical Tip: Thin slightly for large surface airbrushing; apply in two thin coats for crisper detail.

Rating out of 5:

·                     Paint Adhesion: 5

·                     Price: 5

·                     Ratio: 4 (1:0.5)

·                     Coverage: 4

·                     Goldness: 4

Total Score: 4.4/5. A brilliant gold; bright, shiny and saturated. The pigment-to-medium ratio has been worked to ease flow and make airbrush use stress free. A fine addition to your paint collection. Made by hand in small batches.

Final Thoughts: Choose Your Gold Wisely

From craft-store bargains to pro-tier museum finishes, this giant pile of metallic magic has you covered—literally.

Whether you want a quick-and-dirty terrain coat, a luminous showpiece for your Primarch, or a magical colour-shifting alien relic, there’s a gold paint on this list ready to destroy your brushes and your patience in style.

Here’s a quick recap of all paints and their overall scores:

1.        Scale75 Metal n' Alchemy: Dwarven Gold - Total Score: 4.4/5

2.        Duncan Rhodes Two Thin Coats: Heirloom Gold - Total Score: 4.4/5

3.        Metis Minis Metallics: Metis Gold Armour - Total Score: 4.4/5

4.        Turbo Dork: Bullion - Total Score: 4.2/5

5.        AK Metallic: Gold - Total Score: 4.2/5

6.        Vallejo Liquid Gold: Gold - Total Score: 4.2/5

7.        Big Child Creatives Iconic: Gold - Total Score: 4/5

8.        Tamiya Colour Gold Leaf - Total Score: 4/5

9.        Vallejo Liquid Gold: Green Gold - Total Score: 3.9/5

10.    Vallejo Game Colour Metallic: Glorious Gold - Total Score: 3.8/5

11.    Ammo Atom Metal Gold - Total Score: 3.8/5

12.    Army Painter Speedpaint: Golden Armour - Total Score: 3.8/5

13.    Army Painter Speedpaint: Hoplite Gold - Total Score: 3.8/5

14.    AK Metallic: Rusty Gold - Total Score: 3.8/5

15.    Scale75 Metal n' Alchemy: Viking Gold - Total Score: 3.8/5

16.    Turbo Dork: All That Glitters - Total Score: 3.8/5

17.    Ammo Atom Metal Gold Pink - Total Score: 3.4/5

18.    Acryl Rich Gold - Total Score: 3.4/5

19.    Turbo Dork: Pucker - Total Score: 3.4/5 

So, there you have it, a long list of gold paints to cater for your every need, each one filling a specific need and niche.

There is one cautionary tale I will share with you, and that is on Turbo Dork paints.

I do like TD paints; the shimmer effect and finish are very nice. However, their older formula has a propensity to DRY and CLOT in the bottle.

The newer formula TD released to remedy this has largely solved this issue, however because of the pigment load and the tendency for any pigment to settle whilst inactive, TD paints need to be shaken well and vigorously, and even then, they may not flow perfectly.

These smaller bottles of TD contain the older formula and should be avoided. 

An example of this is Turbo Dork: Afterburner. I shook that bottle so long even AC/DC said, “that’s enough!”.

Well, it wasn’t, and I ended up slathering my mini with nothing but medium and a smattering of pigment. Twice. 

It looked fine, the pigment was mixed in fine by the second attempt, and thinned to a good consistency for the airbrush.

Frustrating, as TD’s other paints were nice to work with.

So, be warned, TD make some sexy paints, but they may not behave when you get them home and into an airbrush.

Simply avoid, avoid, avoid the smaller bottles of TD as these are old formulation and have most likely formed a solid mass of pigment inside the bottle separated from the medium.

Pick wisely. And for the Emperor’s sake: Clean your brushes.

 

Happy painting!