My Lafette 42 restoration now underway.

[pitfighter]

Looking like you're making great progress!

This is going to be a nice one.

Pit.

[Tommygunn]

Indeed. Now that the paint stripping is over things have ramped up.

Main frame done and dusted. This part was quite tricky to spray with all its nooks and crannies and overlapping parts causing possible issues of excessive paint build up and drips. It worked out fine though.

Tom.

[42rocker]

Looking Good. Keep it up.

Later 42rocker

[crash520]

ref rust removal and treatment, I have used Evapo-Rust with fantasic success.
http://www.evaporust.com/

soak and wash, or soak, wash and redip to stop rusting

VR
C

[pitfighter]

I notice you have painted the screw threads - I always cover these on bike restorations, just oiling them - leaving them in the white (so to speak.)

Is this how the German's did it?

Pit.

[Tommygunn]

Crash520,
Thanks for the heads up. Can't find it this side of the pond but I've seen a similar stuff in the UK. Thing is, I don't see how you stop the steel flashing over when you do the final wash off with water. I think its meant more for heavy duty rusting rather than flash rust.

Pitfighter,
Yeah, I've taken some advice from Bergflak and he says that according to his evidence the main part of the thread is bare steel with only about 1 or 2mm of the end painted. I will strip it.

The inner cradle has been stripped and prepped for painting. The problem here is that all rivets are too big to remove or indeed to risk it. Therefore, I've had to tape off the blue/black parts but parts such as the MG lock and the inner parts of the rear wiper brackets I've painted with grease so that they can be wiped clean later.

Tom.

[42rocker]

Thanks for sharing these great pics and info..

Later 42rocker

[Tommygunn]

42Rocker,
No problem, a pleasure.

Ok, here's the bit I was sort of leaving till last because I new it would be quite tedious. The problem with the outer cradle is that there are a number of blue/black parts which can't be removed but are in tricky positions when it comes to painting.
Therefore, I had to take my time masking and slotting in tape around the spring arm thingies and carefully masking the hooks and rivets with grease.

Saturday is Dunkelgrau day!

Tom.

[42rocker]

Good Luck and Happy Spraying on "Dunkelgrau day".

May you spray what you want with no major over spray and runs.

Later 42rocker

[Tommygunn]

It's gone great!
Everything has had its first coat of Dunkelgrau bar the outer cradle, main frame and tigger lever/block, as the frame needs some masking and the other parts had a second coat this morning.
This was by far the easiest and most pleasurable part of the build as I could just paint one piece after another and because I am using thinned Cellulose paint it cures in seconds and therefore I can instantly re-coat and touch-up parts.

I did have to do a test on some scrap steel just to be sure there wasn't going to be a reaction between the oxide and the Dunkel. Reason being is that the oxide is thinned with White spirit (Mineral) and even though I had successfully done a non thinned, neat, paintbrush test of Dunkel on oxide I didn't know how the oxide would react with an approx 4:3 mix of Dunkel and Cellulose thinners.
As you might have guessed it went on just fine.

Mind you, one small downside of the Celly paint, is that you definately need good ventilation. Even though I was outside the garage, in the open air, masked up, with an decent breeze, at one point I did suddenly feel myself go dizzy. I must have been downwind by mistake.

Anyway, standby for pics. You'll love it!

Tom.

[Tommygunn]

Ok, here are the parts. Sorry, in my haste and enthusiam I forgot to take photos of some of the stages, i.e. cradle parts in oxide, but I think this photo will make up for it.

Here's a link to a larger photo: http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv22 ... 100369.jpg

Cheers,
Tom.

[42rocker]

Looks like a great job.
Nice group pic of a lot of parts that want to get back together again.
Good Luck with the next coat.

Later 42rocker

[Tommygunn]

Actually I think that is it.
It has got two coats of oxide and now two coats of Dunkelgrau so that should be enough, right?

The plan now is just to let it sit for a few days to let the paint thoroughly harden and then assemble.

Should I add more paint?

Tom.

[42rocker]

Check the paint directions again then add a day or two. Might also want to think about heating or baking?? I would wait more a little time than risk putting it together to quick and have something "paint" together or smear badly for the want of an extra day or two dry time. Again check the dry time on the paint directions then check how moist the air is and how hot.

Good Luck and you have worked long and hard on this so whats another day or two at this point. Can't wait to see the final pics. That's it take a few more pics rather than putting it together..

Later 42rocker

[Tommygunn]

Aye, I won't rush in, slow and steady.
Anyway, I re-glued the elevation lock 'brake pad' back onto the clamp.

Tom.

[Tommygunn]

I had to get stuck in and rebuild something so the elev/trav mech is was.
Lovely jubbly!

You definately have to take note of how you take the components apart because one section has to be completed before another can be slotted into place. Since I had stripped mine such a long time ago I was, at the start, about 2 or 3 steps out of pace and had to strip it back and restart.

When I've got a minute, and less wine in my system, I might do a quick step by step, strip and rebuild 'how to'.

Anyway, pics:

Tom.

p.s. Range plate needs cleaning up around the edges and corners.

[42rocker]

THANKS for those pics. From all of us that have wanted to start taking one apart but may have had a few worries about the insides.
Looks super nice.

Later 42rocker

[seppi334]

The Pics are great!
A strip and rebuild 'how to' would be nice

What will you do with the pads? Reupholstered in a saddlery? Which leather will be best?

Best regards from Germany

[pitfighter]

Great stuff - I am feeling very lazy, my mount still has the Cosmo on it, lol.

This is great work - when I return from this assignment (NYC) I may have to strip mine down.
Great to see the inner workings of the T and E - rare to see that stuff uncovered, thank you!



Pit.
NYC = empty gun-shops, hats, t-shirts and cleaning kits no firearms whatsoever!

[Tommygunn]

No problem, gents.

Seppi334,
I will be using the original Austrian pads and restitching them back on with some flax thread.

More photos: