Mixing colors to create brass

Hey guys,

I have a minor dillema. My 12 year old is going to dress up as The Trooper version of Eddie for Halloween this year. My wife found some old coat that we are dying red as I type this. She wanted me to buy brass buttons on base so we could swap them out.

The fact that said buttons will have anchors on them and I don't want to spend that kind of money led me to tell her that I can just paint them. I know I can just head to the LHS tomorrow and buy a bottle but, I have a ton of different colors on hand and thought maybe someone with more knowledge than myself( Basically everyone here) could toss a few suggestions my way.

If this isn't workable then any help on getting me to convince him to let me shave off his hair and hammer a hinge into his forehead for even more realism would be greatly appreciated... (I'm not normally a "rivet-counter" but, man would that be cool)

Regards,

Jeff