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How To Rust Modern Armour Plating

How to make modern armour plating
I decided to write this article to show everybody how to achieve that rusty armour plating seen on some of those heavy modern equipment pieces like the M1074 transports seen in Iraq. With the insurgency that has been occurring in Iraq, US military personnel were forced to protect themselves using methods deemed necessary to avoid being easy targets for surprise road attacks on their vehicles. I’m sure there are many ways to get the results we’re working to achieve here but this is just one of them.

Things I used to get the job done
1. Any old pair of scissors
2. Apple cider vinegar (you can get this at any food chain store. I think Bragg sells this under their brand name – Bragg is a US brand, I think.)
3. 1 to 3 mm thick, non rust-free metal plate (remember the thicker the plate the more difficult it will be to cut with a normal scissors).
4. A sharp blade or knife (only if needed).
5. A small bowl that will fit the pieces needed for the required project. 6. A spray bottle with water.

I’m sure there are many ways of achieving this effect but this is my own. Others may have a much easier or better method but like everything else, it’s up to the individual modeller to find, what works best for them. I will now try and take you through a couple of short easy steps using my methods.

Step one
The first thing to do is to decide on the design of the armor plating by making a sketch of it on a piece of paper. When done, cut it out according to the scale you want it to be.

Step two
Now take the sheet of metal and cut out a piece that you will need for the required project. Take the pattern that you have made and place it on the sheet of metal. Now using one hand to hold the pattern and the metal plate take a pair of scissors and cut the metal according to the paper pattern you had just made. When done, the results should be similar to the paper pattern you made.

Step three
When you are satisfied with your design pattern, then you are ready to age your armor plating. Pour a reasonable amount of apple cider vinegar in a bowl, so that when you put the metal in it, it will submerge covering the entire surface of the metal. Now leave the metal piece submerged in the apple cider vinegar for about 30 minutes .
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    Tools you'll need
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    Paper Pattern
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About the Author

About Charles King (ti)
FROM: DALARNAS, SWEDEN

Charles King hails from Sweden. He has been interested in modeling since he was 12; though there was other interest that took priority at the time, he would eventually fall into the modeling soon enough. Not until recent,in 2002 that his interest was rekindled. While browsing the Internet, he ca...


Comments

Hmmm... Very simple and effectivemethod...I think I can use this on something.... Bunker doors maube? Goood article...never would have though of actually rusting it....
MAR 16, 2006 - 09:16 PM
Dear Charles Thanks for the article very nice and usefull technic i will check this also in the lab with stronger acid :-) :-) :-) Chemistry rules Cheers Seb
MAR 17, 2006 - 02:05 AM
Brilliantly simple method that I've not seen before. I'm a figure modeller, but will find a use for this somewhere, somehow. Thanks for sharing. Adrian Hopwood
MAR 17, 2006 - 06:55 PM
The same Idea can be used to turn Steel wool into a Rust powder "pigment
MAR 17, 2006 - 09:25 PM
WOW! Looks really good. I'll have to try that soon
MAR 19, 2006 - 07:55 AM
interesting technique, I´ll try it thanks Charles! cheers
MAR 19, 2006 - 08:13 AM
No problem. Glad it can be of some use to someone.
MAR 20, 2006 - 11:29 AM
charles I've seen your technique posted around and I must say the more I see it the more I want to try it! Great job bro!!!
MAR 21, 2006 - 02:19 AM
Question : what is the best supply for metal plates? Any chance I can recycle something from the house?
MAR 21, 2006 - 02:24 AM
Well, if it is the right thickness and not rust protected than I think it should work. It's really the thickness that you have to find. Anything thicker than 0.3 will be a little difficult to cut to the desired pattern. I say check out the hardware store, they should have a good supply.
MAR 21, 2006 - 03:31 AM