That lighting technique seems to work well. The results look good. 
I keep meaning to experiment with gold effects myself - both gold leaf and gold paint. I’ve thought about how I might apply it, but never seem to get around to it! 
I remember Grum did a nice gold leaf effect in one of his pictures. The technique is probably different to what you’re trying to do though: Prophecy of the Buddhist-Archangel of the Holy Sausage