The issue with paint, certainly silver, is the size of the flake. Even the finest aluminum flake looks too "metallic" compared to the real deal done in full size. I work for an autobody supply store, been painting for 30 + years and this is an issue I have run into many times in the past. For scale realism the Flite Metal, in the smaller scales we work with, would duplicate a "painted look" on the full size aircraft better than actual paint, IMO. If you do go with paint, choose the finest, most gray flake you can find. A bit of white tends to tone down the actual flake size, toning down the metallic look.

Dan