Panzer Track Link Before & After

**Good Pwny** · 08-24-2012, 11:01 PM

My friend restores classic Corvettes and was nice enough to blast some of my relics with glass beads. I've tried other methods on them such as white vinegar and acid baths which yielded little or no improvements. I was VERY surprised and pleased with the results!

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 08-24-2012 11:01 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Danmark** · 08-24-2012, 11:06 PM

Looks good, nice & clean. The next thing I wiuld do is to thin some black paint ( quite thin ) and paint it all over the piece. Then with a cloth wipe most of it off - the paint stays in the cracks & crevises and gives a nice patina back to the piece. In model making this is called a "wash " - it will also protect ( a bit ) the steel from rusting so quickly again.
Dan

**Datrus** · 08-24-2012, 11:15 PM

Had my old 1952 Matchless 500cc cylinder head and cylinder glass blasted

Glass is good on aluminum because it does not remove as much material as sand.

Regards, Lars

**Paul D** · 08-24-2012, 11:18 PM

Nice track it has come out well , but for me if it is now painted then it's originality as a true relic piece has gone , just my opnion , apart from light cleaning i really don't like to mess with all my relices !!

**Datrus** · 08-24-2012, 11:37 PM

Will agree with Paul, but as for cleaning goes it's a good result.

Regards, Lars

**Eric Zentner** · 08-24-2012, 11:42 PM

I think they turned out great Gp. It will be nice that they are not shedding on your shelf.

Eric

**Good Pwny** · 08-25-2012, 02:29 AM

I don't think I would ever paint the track link. I think that I'm just going to take some time and add a thorough application of Ren Wax. And true, Eric, no more shedding. I love the look of these things!

**Danmark** · 08-25-2012, 03:17 AM

Sorry,
Never made myself clear - by painting, I mean "washing" ..... its more like thiiners with paint in it rather than paint thinned out.

Here is a JU88 fuel port I bead blasted clean ( like your parts ) then 'washed' with black to get some patina going...... see what I mean?

Remember these were BRIGHT, CLEAN aluminium before the wash! And I did it because it was a big lump of corrosion that looked terrible!!!

Cheers, Dan

**Good Pwny** · 08-25-2012, 04:43 AM

I hear ya Danmark but I just took 45 min and applied a solid coat of Ren and buffed it for protection. I'm liking the way it came out.

**Danmark** · 08-28-2012, 04:32 AM

by Danmark

Sorry,
Never made myself clear - by painting, I mean "washing" ..... its more like thiiners with paint in it rather than paint thinned out.

Here is a JU88 fuel port I bead blasted clean ( like your parts ) then 'washed' with black to get some patina going...... see what I mean?

Remember these were BRIGHT, CLEAN aluminium before the wash! And I did it because it was a big lump of corrosion that looked terrible!!!

Cheers, Dan

Just to make my point ( and not to criticize others methods ) here is a 'before' photo ...... sometimes you just CANT leave an item in its "as found" condition.