battlefield pickup

**phillyray** · February 14, 2011, 16:09

I thought I would go for the battle worn look on an AK. It's still a work in progress but I think I'm on the right track so far. I'm using some scotch bright pads and just going over the high spots. What do you guys think? Does it look "authentic" so far? I still have alot of scuffin to do though. If you have one that you have done like this post a pic for me as a reference. Thanks

TideWater 41009 · February 14, 2011, 16:47

You are on the right track. Gunplumber has graciously provided several posts on how to achieve excellent results; you might want to do a search for these.

Brian in MN · February 14, 2011, 19:45

If you are working with paint rather than park you can get the thinning look by using a tiny amount of cold blue on areas of bare metal. Done right it comes out grey. Park is much easier to work with. I have done a parked AKM and a painted AK-74. GP actually built the -74 and aged it. Imho, fine sand paper works the best.

Blood of Tyrants · February 14, 2011, 20:11

If you want the authentic battlefield pickup look, you need to prop it up against the wall and throw 1-2" rocks at if for about half an hour.

**phillyray** · February 14, 2011, 20:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Blood of Tyrants
If you want the authentic battlefield pickup look, you need to prop it up against the wall and throw 1-2" rocks at if for about half an hour.

Gazz · February 15, 2011, 08:02

If you want to a real nice job on that look, place your AK in the corner of the room. Start a fire in the other corner and wait until it gets going good before you call the fire department. The house will fill with all kinds of corrosive gases and stuff. When the fireman arrive they will spray the inside of your house with water thoroughly which of course will make corrosive solutions as it mixes with the gases. This will give your AK an unparalled been there done that look but you may have to replace your wood. I would like to trade off my to new looking red bakelite or whatever polymer the Commies used for some sturdy beat furniture. All I need is the handguard, forend and pistol grip as the gun now has an underfolder on it.

**prosecond** · February 15, 2011, 08:05

I would think you would need to let that exposed metal develop rust and wait a while before you clean it off.

Gazz · February 15, 2011, 08:11

Oh yeah, the guy I got it from had it in the back of his pickup truck for about two months (late spring- early summer so plenty of rain) before I got a hold of it. He was just going to throw it out!

**gunplumber** · February 15, 2011, 08:16

I think you're doing great. I tried scotchbrite pads but it wasn't agressive enough for paint although it may be just the ticket for park or blue. I used 220 sand paper on the most obvious high spots, then followed up with 320 scrubbing. 400 didn't do anything on the paint.

Paint is a lot harder because it can't be faded like bluing or park. Pain it either on or off.

Here is Brian in MN before dulling the high points with cold blue. I didn't mess weith the furniture, at his request.

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-01.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-03.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-04.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-05.jpg

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-06.jpg

and after the cold blue

http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-07.jpg

catmguy445 · February 16, 2011, 17:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Blood of Tyrants
If you want the authentic battlefield pickup look, you need to prop it up against the wall and throw 1-2" rocks at if for about half an hour.

I've seen an AK that really was picked up on a battlefield, and yours is WAY too nice looking. You need a bunch of scrapes and gouges, and some dents in the top cover. A good way to duplicate the battlefield pickup look would be to tie a rope to it around the receiver, going through the trigger guard, then go find somewhere that there's a dirt road, tie the other end of the rope to your car or truck (trailer hitches work nicely for this), then drag the rifle down the dirt road for a couple miles, and it'll look just like you took it from a dead VC. Or to bring it up to date, as they say now, a dead Tango. And if you can manage to find some blood......cow's blood will work..........pour that on it and let it sit for a week or two, and you'll have a REALLY authentic battlefield look.

Brian in MN · February 17, 2011, 16:04

Several more:

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...hreadid=298850

February 14, 2011, 16:09	#1
phillyray Veteran Member Contributor FALaholic #: 43105 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 1,542	battlefield pickup I thought I would go for the battle worn look on an AK. It's still a work in progress but I think I'm on the right track so far. I'm using some scotch bright pads and just going over the high spots. What do you guys think? Does it look "authentic" so far? I still have alot of scuffin to do though. If you have one that you have done like this post a pic for me as a reference. Thanks __________________ "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have." -- Thomas Jefferson Last edited by phillyray; May 19, 2012 at 19:55.

February 14, 2011, 19:45	#3
Brian in MN Registered FALaholic #: 289 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,927	If you are working with paint rather than park you can get the thinning look by using a tiny amount of cold blue on areas of bare metal. Done right it comes out grey. Park is much easier to work with. I have done a parked AKM and a painted AK-74. GP actually built the -74 and aged it. Imho, fine sand paper works the best. __________________ Kalashnikov: The most successful point and click interface in the world.

February 14, 2011, 20:11	#4
Blood of Tyrants Registered FALaholic #: 1244 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 2,843	If you want the authentic battlefield pickup look, you need to prop it up against the wall and throw 1-2" rocks at if for about half an hour. __________________ From time to time the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Thomas Jefferson One day, in the not too distant future, good men and women like those that serve in Iraq, will decide that the United States isn't worth fighting for and the blame will be squarely on the shoulders of the DemocRat Party.

February 15, 2011, 08:02	#6
Gazz Registered FALaholic #: 15159 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NH Posts: 1,935	If you want to a real nice job on that look, place your AK in the corner of the room. Start a fire in the other corner and wait until it gets going good before you call the fire department. The house will fill with all kinds of corrosive gases and stuff. When the fireman arrive they will spray the inside of your house with water thoroughly which of course will make corrosive solutions as it mixes with the gases. This will give your AK an unparalled been there done that look but you may have to replace your wood. I would like to trade off my to new looking red bakelite or whatever polymer the Commies used for some sturdy beat furniture. All I need is the handguard, forend and pistol grip as the gun now has an underfolder on it. __________________ Gazz

February 15, 2011, 08:11	#8
Gazz Registered FALaholic #: 15159 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: NH Posts: 1,935	Oh yeah, the guy I got it from had it in the back of his pickup truck for about two months (late spring- early summer so plenty of rain) before I got a hold of it. He was just going to throw it out! __________________ Gazz

February 14, 2011, 16:47	#2
TideWater 41009 Registered FALaholic #: 1789 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 1,364	You are on the right track. Gunplumber has graciously provided several posts on how to achieve excellent results; you might want to do a search for these.

February 15, 2011, 08:05	#7
prosecond Veteran Member Contributor FALaholic #: 1816 Join Date: Dec 2000 Posts: 1,412	I would think you would need to let that exposed metal develop rust and wait a while before you clean it off.

February 15, 2011, 08:16	#9
gunplumber Arrogant Bastard Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 96 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 15,765	I think you're doing great. I tried scotchbrite pads but it wasn't agressive enough for paint although it may be just the ticket for park or blue. I used 220 sand paper on the most obvious high spots, then followed up with 320 scrubbing. 400 didn't do anything on the paint. Paint is a lot harder because it can't be faded like bluing or park. Pain it either on or off. Here is Brian in MN before dulling the high points with cold blue. I didn't mess weith the furniture, at his request. http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-01.jpg http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-03.jpg http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-04.jpg http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-05.jpg http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-06.jpg and after the cold blue http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.co...istress-07.jpg __________________ T. Mark Graham Master Gunsmith Arizona Response Systems, LLC

February 17, 2011, 16:04	#11
Brian in MN Registered FALaholic #: 289 Join Date: Jul 2000 Posts: 4,927	Several more: http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...hreadid=298850 __________________ Kalashnikov: The most successful point and click interface in the world.

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