dull metallic paint

I use a couple different paints for that sort of work.  I like Humbrol MetalCote matt aluminum and Testors makes a flat aluminum and a flat steel in their 1/4 oz. square bottles of enamel.   All these are, of course, enamel, solvent-based paint because that's what I use. There are probably acrylic versions that would fill your needs too.

Gary

I've used acrylic metallics with no issues whatsoever. Most time, I usually brush it on. I wouldn't say all metallic acrylics are crap but it's a matter of preference.

For a good dull aluminum shade, I prefer Humbrol 56. It's a nice gray oxidized shade. Humbrol also makes some lighter "Metalcote" shades of aluminum, one buffable, one non, to vary your tones. 

If you need to paint the entire model with a metallic color, nothing beats Alclad. 

If you need to paint only a certain part with a metallic color, MM enamel, Tamiya & Vallejo acrylics are more than adequate.

Yes, this hobby can be expensive! 

Vallejo have their own metal colours now but I've never used them so cant give an honest review. You could look at polishing pigments there are a couple out there

http://www.uschivdr.com/shopping-categories/shop-colors-paints-pigments-primer/metallic-colors-pigments/

http://ak-interactive.com/v2/?product_cat=true-metal

Both look good, I have the AK and it works fine but would be hard to use for a lot of the detail in a cockpit.

To behonest I love Alclad and while it will cost it will work for what your looking at. If you have an airbrush its the way to go and a bottle isnt that much

Phil

Testors has a flat aluminum in both the little square bottles and the MM line.  I love the stuff- it is my go-to for a flat aluminum finish.  They also have a flat steel in the little bottles that is a bit darker than the aluminum.

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions!

I am heading over to my local hobby store to look at those humbrol paints. I figure that I'll wait until I'm building a natural-metal plane to dole out the money for that alclad. In the  meantime I've painted small-detail parts with my alclad metallics, as they look pretty good on stuff like control sicks and whatnot.