Searching for Field Green Paint

[bulletbaron]

I have located a Yugo ground mount in great shape but it is in a "lime????" green color, can anyone advise where I can obtain the correct shade of paint (and red primer) to repaint this unit. Alos, can I get input from Forum memebrs on their thoughts of refinishing a 1944 issue MG42 to its original finish!

Oh yes, while I am on the info search, my MG 42 does not have the adjustable bipod, is one proper on my weapon??????? If so, does anyone know of an available unit!!!!!!!

Thanks in asdvance for any help!

Dennis at dgf@netnitco.net

[CRUSADER]

Where are you? Are you in the US?

[bulletbaron]

I am located in beautiful(?) Hobart, Indiana................................

And you may ask where is Hobart, we are right next to Gary (murder capital of America)

[Boondoggle]

My M53 looks to be a mix of black oxide and parkerizing finish. Not sure what the correct finish for the MG42 should be.

Parkerizing is easy enough to do at home, just need a stainless container big enough to hold the parts, and heat the solution to 200°.

Black oxide is a little more hazardous. One commercial name for hot alkaline black oxide is Du-Lite. Check around with the local gunsmiths to see if any have the equipment.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... ber=741750

[12thWaffenSS]

Why don't you go to 1944 Militaria.com and buy the Dunkel Feld Grau or what ever other paint colors they offer?

As for the primer, I think any dark red crimson primer would do. You really shouldn't see any primer once something is painted. Then again, I could be wrong.

[tomcatshaas]

Why don't you go to 1944 Militaria.com and buy the Dunkel Feld Grau or what ever other paint colors they offer?

As for the primer, I think any dark red crimson primer would do. You really shouldn't see any primer once something is painted. Then again, I could be wrong.

You will see some primer peaking through in places after you paint. But it's when it starts to get scratched up and abused is when you want that red primer paint to show through.

I will post paint and formulas.

TC

[tomcatshaas]

What type of ground mount? Year? color are you looking for. Dunkelgrua or Dunkelgelb? IE. Panzer Grey or Ordnance Tan?

Red oxide primer from any farm implement dealer. ie. Fleetfarm....farm and fleet. ect. This is a dead on correct color of red oxide primer.



Ordnance Tan (color matched)
take this down to a Sherwin Williams store and get it mixed.





This is in sw computer system and is dead on match
Dunkelgrau. panzer grey (sherwin williams stock color)

[tomcatshaas]

My M53 looks to be a mix of black oxide and parkerizing finish. Not sure what the correct finish for the MG42 should be.

Parkerizing is easy enough to do at home, just need a stainless container big enough to hold the parts, and heat the solution to 200°.

Black oxide is a little more hazardous. One commercial name for hot alkaline black oxide is Du-Lite. Check around with the local gunsmiths to see if any have the equipment.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... ber=741750

What I have heard that comes the closest is if you medium glass bead it and then do a hot blue done at a gunsmith. That is the closest finish to original.

If you want to do it at home, I would suggest hot parkerizing and use the mangenese from shooters solutions. That's what I did. They have the blackest park in the industy. And is so simple and fool proof that even a Nuclear Inspector can do it.

http://www.shootersolutions.com/parkerizingm.html

[CRUSADER]

The MG42's I've seen that were not blued (which is pretty rare) were very light grey. I understand that this is a Zinc phosphate finish. The lightness of the finish I have seen is likely due to 60+ years of use.

Lauer Weaponry sells a Zinc solution. I have used it & it works great. The darkness of the finish will vary depending on the type of steel alloy being treated.

Tom - how glossy is the resulting fininsh from those Sherwin Williams paints? Have you ever tried mixing in a flattening agent?

For paint, I have been taking my book to a local body shop supply place. In turn, they have been contacting DuPont with the RAL numbers to get the mixing 'recipes' (haha!). I asked them to mix the paint without a flattening agent. I have bought a few quarts of the flattening agent in addition to the colors (field grey & dark yellow).

I have been painting all kinds of gear lately (ammo cans, field gear, tripod, etc.) Mixing in the flattening agent myself allows me a little more flexibility in the finish I achieve on the various projects. Some stuff is semi-flat, some semi-gloss, some is dead flat. This way, everything looks a little bit different - not like it was all painted at the same time & by the same guy.

[tomcatshaas]

it's an oil base satin. It is a bit shiny for my taste at first. But it does flatten down with time. I couldn't find a flattening agent. I did a search and found that you could put talc powder in the paint to flatten, but I didn't try it. After I baked the finish with four heat lamps, it flattened down some, and a year later it's much better. But I would like to find that flattening agent you speak of and try that.

[CRUSADER]

I just realized that I made a typo (we can no longer edit?). In my post above I referenceed 'RLM' colors. That should read 'RAL' colors.

I don't do Luftwaffe, baby!

You are correct about the flattening agent - it is talc. Basically, automotive flattening agent is clear paint with a bunch of talc in it.

.......makes me wonder if I could just buy some talc powder and mix it into the paint directly.... hmmmmmmm...something else to try

[Bil]

What choo talkin about,Willis?! The post looks good to me! ---bil

[tomcatshaas]

bil waved his magic wand.....just don't ask what wand it is.

[bulletbaron]

Fellows....................

I want to thanks all who have taken the time to help me get my new acquisitions up to a reasonable look of authenticity. The ground mount I have purchased is a YUGO post war in their "lime green" color scheme. The fellow who I purchased the unit from is going to strip it down to basics, replace all rivets & the prime & paint it to the field green color.

I am somewhat hesitant to start messing with the finish, I realize it is older them me (not much) and some I have seen refinished look strangely "new"!

i will pass on to the ground mount restorer all the paint info and will keep interested parties up to date on its transformation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again................THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flemgunner]

Your not the guy who bought off GB from me by any chance are you?

[bulletbaron]

Jeff:

Yes it is me, I sent you this entire page earlier today!!!!

Dennis

[flemgunner]

Nope Im Glenn. I sold one on GB as well that Ill be redoing for the new owner

[bulletbaron]

No, GLENN, it is me, the new owner of your Ground Mount, I had a "Senior Moment" and apoloize for the error!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flemgunner]

No biggie