When were Iron Crosses Painted?

[John T]

Hello fellow forum members:

I have studied and handled many Iron Crossess, to be specific the 1939 First Class Versions.

I have a question. When were they painted? Some appear to be painted before the frames were added--as is "textbook", but others look to have legitimately have been painted after the cores were added because you can see overspray on the beading...the overspray is even all around the beading. I ask this question because when I look at the pieces that I think were painted after the frames were added...let me call these "the pieces in question"..I know for a fact that these are vet pickups and some were mint in the boxes.

Anyway, any input on Iron Cross experts/collectors would be most greatful.

Warmest Regards,

John

[Paolovski]

Hi John,

I have a fair few EK's of which at least 3 show signs of painting after assembly,namely "106" and "128" EKII's and "4" EKI.They definitely haven't been touched up post-production.I have seen plenty of touched up crosses and they always show brush strokes and rough finishing.

Paul

[Ludwig]

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Both versions exist, no doubt about that, but as far as I know the most common was that they were painted before they were asembled.

[John T]

Hi Paul and Ludvig...thank you guys very much for the information...I have an L/54 that no doubt is not a repaint and looks to be painted after the core pieces were put together, John

[Chet Sowersby]

John,
I have two L/54's and they both appear to have be painted after assembly. I would post them but it does not really show up that well when scanned.

Chet

[mrg]

Hi guys would agree that the two versions painted before and painted after core was fitted in place do exist. The painted after ones are a little harder to find but they are out there.

[Adrian]

Here is an example of an L54 with paint on the beading........

[John T]

Thanks for the picture Adrian..very interestnig....I guess this shows that all crosses were not painted before assembly... I had always suspected they were not.

John