Drop Container Restoration help needed

[mace1288]

Hello All,

I just picked up a very nice original drop container. Unfortunately it has 2 rust holes to on side on the thin metal sheeting. Otherwise in very nice condition. The outside has lost most of its original paint, with just some desert tan remaining. I intend to have someone carefully repair the damage and repaint the outside of the container, leaving the inside a is. I was wondering if anyone else has gone through this process. If so, has anyone found period correct letter/number stencils for these containers?

[Totenhead]

Hello All,

I just picked up a very nice original drop container. Unfortunately it has 2 rust holes to on side on the thin metal sheeting. Otherwise in very nice condition. The outside has lost most of its original paint, with just some desert tan remaining. I intend to have someone carefully repair the damage and repaint the outside of the container, leaving the inside a is. I was wondering if anyone else has gone through this process. If so, has anyone found period correct letter/number stencils for these containers?

Have a read of this thread

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=732500

I think the pictures are still active in the links

[Totenhead]

Have a read of this thread

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=732500

I think the pictures are still active in the links

Not drop containers sorry, was a little to quick off the mark there

[mace1288]

Noone?

[David Fettes]

I would contact English Bob, he has restored a few drop containers in his time. http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ber.php?u=2537

[Ironcrown]

My opinion...
Leave it as is!
I think it has no sense repainting an original WW2 relic. IMHO, even a 1% of original paint is better that a 100% of fresh finish! The conditions tell its story. A restoration like what you are thinking to do will lower the value as well.
If you want a mint one, buy a mint one in original conditions! The drop container you found is a relic, and will never come back to its original status; if you restore it, it will become a Frankenstein, a rebuilt object, and partially a fake.

PS: if the brown paint is factory applied, this is not tropical paint, it's just the standard finish used from 1943 on german equipment.

[mace1288]

RE: restoration - it's always tricky. In this case the container has 2 rust holes on one side at the bottom. As you can see, not much original paint remains. It also has a repro towing arm. Yes, restoration will damage the value a little, but restoration will also mean the container could be used in period displays. If I could find one in better condition I would buy it

[Ironcrown]

I confirm my thoughts, it looks nice in this way!
Personally, I would only clean the outside as best as I can to remove some rust, using oxalic acid and similar products. Probably some more original paint would come out.
This container has a lot of character that a restored one will never have!

[floriskok]

+1 Please leave it as it is, it looks 1000 times better with the little original paint it has
left on the outside than a fresh and shiny new coat of paint!