Thanks for the responses and the input. I am definately taking notes. Try as I might, I just cannot get a decent photo of my problem. I'm not good at photography and using only a cell phone and a flashlight for the below image. The image looks quite good, but it is actually much brighter than what you see. Sorry, but this is the best I can do via my limited camera skills.
This is one of the 3 landing gears of an 18" Moebious Jupiter II. The photo does my initial paint job a lot of justice, however. The 'pad/foot', that rests upon the ground, is actually much, much brighter, in real life, than this image truly reveals. "It's too bright!" It's Tamiya 'Mica Silver' #TS-76. No clear coat has been added. This is straight out of the ol' rattle-can. Sure, I can easily dull these pads up a bit with some wash, grime, etc., albeit. I was also planning on painting the entire upper and lower hulls of this 18" model with this same color paint. It's a great looking color, however. That will also make the exterior of the hull, a very large amount of surface area 'extremely' bright when viewed in normal lighting conditions. That is my 'true' dilemma'! How can I tone down the bright color, of this paint, without deminishing the alluring properties of its color? Is such a thing even possible?
... @#$!
I'm trying to post an image, but no joy! Someone care to give me a hint as to how I can successfully post images on this forum? Obviously 'not' a very straight forward proccess...