New tanks

[armor fiend]

So, when a tank has only been in a field a few months, I expect it hasn't gotten too rusty. So the tracks will probably look new (though dirty and maybe a little worn) and the muffler probably isn't all rusted out yet.

So how should they look?

[Panther F]

Correct. Rust should only occur if the tank had a large amount of paint scraped off or it's been sitting in a field for many, many years.

It would really depend on it's surrounding environment what it would look like after only a few months in service.

[armor fiend]

What color would non-rusty mufflers and tracks be on a PV IV in 1942?

[Wiking]

The tracks would probably rust fairly quickly, as they were not painted (why would they be?) but the vehicles movement would remove some of this and it would rust again when it sat still. So even a relatively new tank should have some rust and discoloration to the tracks.

As far as I know the muffler should be the same color as the tank. It may have been painted by the supplier before installation, and may not match exactly but the color should be the same. I do not know if this was the case, though.
Mufflers get hot and the paint cooks. rust would begin to form soon after the paint deteriorated. Some of the rust would get cooked too but it would not go away so again even a newish Pz. IV would show some rust in this area as well.

Cheers,
John

[FJCabeza]

If you mean a "new" tank shouldn´t be weathered . Look at this one, with a brand new exhaust and covered by all the mud of Russia.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/466/bscap0027on7.jpg
While this one with its rusted muffler looks a bit cleaner:
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6561/bscap0072cht1.jpg

[Panther F]

I know German tracks were made of a material that didn't rust ...especially when in use. Basically they would be all black (or muddy color) and only the contact points that meet the ground would be a shiny metal color. A new muffler would either be painted over or starting to turn black from the paint being burned off. A few months of use and I'm sure it would start turning some sort of rusty color.

[armor fiend]

Oh, I definitely plan on weathering the piece. The pics I have the thing is running around in deep mud. It seems like a fairly new tank.

Thanks for the pics and the opinions! :thumb:

[Uruk-Hai]

I know German tracks were made of a material that didn't rust ...especially when in use. Basically they would be all black (or muddy color) and only the contact points that meet the ground would be a shiny metal color. A new muffler would either be painted over or starting to turn black from the paint being burned off. A few months of use and I'm sure it would start turning some sort of rusty color.

Surely they do rust, dont they? What material would that be?

Cheers

[armor fiend]

stainless steel? http://eventis.ws/images/smilies/cute.gif

[Uruk-Hai]

stainless steel? http://eventis.ws/images/smilies/cute.gif

"Schweden Stahl" is the german term if Im not mistaken. But no they arent made of that. Which also rust during certain conditions.

Cheers

[Panther F]

I believe it was a high amount of magnesium that kept them from rusting only under certain conditions.