Brisket Bust by Broken Toad: Lawnor's first ever bust (& a cheeky attempt at winning the Spring Cleaning comp)

She comes in 4 parts.  She got a warm soapy bath, and was left overnight to dry.  I cleaned up the few minimal mold lines and then gled her right arm on.  There was a small gap between arm and body so rather than use liquid putty I tried a trick I’d heard.  I painted a few layers of varnish into and over the gap before priming.  It’s filled the gap quite nicely.

All the separate parts were then mounted on Lawnor brand hobby holders (Sponsored by the local dairy and Diversy Lever) and then given a zenithal prime using an airbrush, Stynylrex black primer (I need more of this stuff.  Will the OTT store ever stock it?  Got a good supplier in the UK anyone?) and Vallejo 74.601 Grey primer.  She was then put on the side to dry for a day or two as I hear 24hrs+ isn’t needed, but the primer works better if it gets it.  I was also finishing off another project.

Things I’d like your help with:

• I don’t know how to paint the metal.  Ledbelcher seems inappropriate on a bust.  Anyone got any helpful guides they can link to?  Non Metallic Metal seems the way to go.
• I’ll be using a similar bottle cap to make her final plinth.  I’ll need to fill the end with something I can drill in to to support the rod.  I could use green stuff and pad it down there, but does anyone have any alternate ideas?  I was considering melting plastic, but the cap would melt.  I also don’t know how to melt without it just catching fire.
• I have other similar projects on the horizon that have semi-transparent  sheer materials (White lace and black stockings).  I’ve no clue where to begin with that stuff.  Guides would be appreicated.

It might not count so ignore this if you want, but I’m gonna throw this in the ring for the Spring Cleaning Hobby Challenge 2020, as I started her last year (I washed her and sat her on my desk to paint just as soon as the classes were over, but then got distracted/intimidated and never got further), and because £50 is £50.