Large Scale Central

Gun Blue VS Pewter Black, has Gun Blue worked for you?

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

I decided to start working on 4 rolling stock kits while waiting for parts for another project I am working on, the kits are Ozark Miniatures Flat Car and Box Car and two PNG Box Cars. I did a lot of research on building rolling stock here and on the other site to prepare me for the builds since I have never built rolling stock before and saw several posts referring to use “Gun Blue” to blacken the metal parts that come with the kits. I already had one bottle of Pewter Black from Ozark and also had a bottle of Casey Birchwood Perma Blue, but I didn’t think either one would be enough to do all the parts so I picked up a 2nd bottle of Perma Blue because I could pick it up locally. Over the weekend I cleaned up all the parts and washed them in soapy water and then alcohol. Tonight I tried to blacken the parts in the Gun Blue and it didn’t work very well at all. The parts I put in the gun blue came out very blotchy (and with a white coating which I was able to brush off) and not very black. I thought that maybe I didn’t prepare them that well, so I decided to put one of the pieces in the Pewter Black and it darkened up nicely except where the part was blotchy from the Gun Blue. So I decided to put some of the other parts in the Pewter Black and they came out really nice (pieces from Ozark and PNG), especially after brushing them with a bristle brush, but I didn’t have enough to blacken all the parts as it got weaker as I used it.

I guess am going to have to order some more pewter black.

So has anyone had good results with Gun Blue?

An interesting note, both products look exactly the same, a light blue liquid, but the gun blue turned cinnamon brown as I used it and the Pewter Black turned black.

Thanks

#2

When you apply the Pewter Black, try putting some iron in the liquid. I used similar stuff oxidizing jewelry for a couple of decades… apply exta liquid and use an Exacto blade tip to darken the stain. Don’t touch the metal with the blade, just move the droplet about with the tip. Iron or steel should activate the black.

John

edit removed mention of fixed typo

#3

One thing to make sure of, any metal treatment (bluing/blackening/parkerizing/etc) need the treated piece to be incredibly clean to get a good finish. I generally wash the part multiple times.

#4

The pieces I put in the Pewter Black blackened evenely, its the Gun Blue that did not cover well. I just ordered a 16 oz bottle of Jax Pewter Black to finish the pieces I have left over, mainly the Ozark trucks.

#5

Dave I think you will find that the Casey Birchwood Perma Blue is made to blue steel and nothing else, although it may work to some extent on other metals. Birchwood Casey also make a Brass Black and an Aluminium black no idea how they would work on Ozark castings.
Mick