Perma Blue on Tracks

[grim_marmazet]

I've just ordered myself a set of Impact tracks for my Tiger 1 and I was wondering if anyone has used the Birchwood Casey 'Perma Blue' blueing solution to blacken their tracks?

Would it work well on alloy used for the tracks? Or is there a better substance to use?

Cheers,
Rik

[Tankie]

Railway modellers (like me) use carrs metal black, which is available for a number of different metals, but to be honest chemical blacks are quite expensive and i've always used paint in a cocktail of colours (burnt umber, burnt siena) to get a rusty track look.

[grim_marmazet]

I understand a lot of people use paint, I just think the chemical blacks look more realistic. I guess its a matter of opinion.

The carrs metal black, would the white metal one be good for the zinc alloy the Impact tracks are made from?

Cheers,
Rik

[Alstone]

I have tried G96 Gun blue cream, but I found that Birchwood Casey Aluminium black which is a liquid works best. After many hours of running on all sorts of surfaces it is still as good as when applied, you do have to clean the tracks well before use to get the best effect.

I bought it from:  http://www.gunspares.co.uk/shopdisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes&sppp=10

Al

[Ern]

I used the Perma blue on my tracks and it did a pretty good job.  I kind of left a rusty brown color to it as well.  I didn't care much for it [although it looked pretty good!] and soaked them in some oil to keep them black.  I was also worried about the chemical process hurting the pins and thought the oil might help.  Oh, almost forgot... it did leave a few spots that did not darken at all.  They were small and hardly noticable.  I think it was the metal used and probably some aluminum in the mix

[Tankie]

I just tried carrs aluminium black on a spare zinc metal link (not impact) and it worked well - i don't have whitemetal black but guess its much the same. 

Its also good for after market metal/ LED machine guns etc.

[grim_marmazet]

Just a quick question Ern, how long did you leave the Perma Blue on your tracks to get the rusty brown effect?

Cheers,
Rik