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    #1

    37 dated Laffete HELP!

    Good Evening Gents.

    With much help from Bergflak's excellent website for reference, I have managed to get a 37 dated Laffete.

    This has been over painted with something weird so I am in the process of stripping it down. In fact so much paint that sections could be measured in millimeters and was preventing it from functioning properly.

    I need help with one of the colours, I have an excellent sample of the yellow ocher colour from under the main bearing bolt washers, ditto an excellent match on the brown from under the rear alloy block that supports the locking latch.

    THE GREEN SHADE IS KILLING ME. Would anyone happen to know of a modern RAL colour that will match. I do not want to order from examples on the net as the colour rendition is never right.

    Much appreciated if any one has any info.

    Once I extract digit I will get organised and get some pics on the go

    Regards

    Tim
    Tags: None
    #2
    37 lafette

    Well after a good dig out and not a few tester pots the green has been matched from a small amount found under the gunge on the neck of the buffer piston.

    Iv' e actually used BS351C Middle Brunswick but with an additional tint of black to bring it down.

    The three colours iv' e used are all matched to clean samples of the original, but the colours on the pictures are not rendering correctly as they do not look as on the actual item.

    Below is a dry assembly with no bolts fitted etc to give you an idea of works so far.

    I will post some more details of the paint at a slightly latter date as I want to check out the search fire unit colours.

    Regards

    Tim
    Attached Files

    Comment

      #3
      I like it -

      I have one in Yugo "key-lime" green and I wish i had the time, expertise to do what you've done - nice work - !!!!

      Look forward to seeing it completed.

      Comment

        #4
        Thanks Pitfighter,

        Its quite enjoyable when you get into it, and while its nice to have the tools to do it you don't actually have to have the "actual" issued tools.

        Bit more info I dug out.

        Panzer colours shows that the 3 tone cammo consisted of

        1) Erdgelb Matt.......Earth Yellow

        2) Grun Matt...........Green

        3) Braun Matt..........Brown

        These colours to be roughly equal proportions, with no vehicle to match in camouflage pattern.....in otherwords, randomised to the crews choice.

        Looking at the pictures on the web from fellow collectors who own an original 3 tone lafette, it would appear that the randomised scheme is applied to the lafette as well, as I have seen no pattern emerging on the admittedly limited selection apart from of course the colours actually used.

        What I have noted is where the brown is used adjacent to the earth yellow, the overspray changes the flavour of the yellow very much, to the point where it is hard to tell which is which on some photographs.

        Current paints as we know do not cross over well to the historic RAL Numbers so the paint used is as follows

        BSB Paints UK
        400ML spray can (they reckon its Matt but more like 15% Matt)

        Erdgelb = NCS30140(182 Matt)

        Braun = RAL 8007

        Grun = BS 381C 226 Mid Brunswick (tinted with extra black)

        Mid Brunswick card has 2.24g of black for 400ml spray can, operative lifted the black to 2.8g and it gave me an exact match.

        Pictures attached show markings to the rear end cap (the 7 in the date is barely visible, the serial number is, as informed by Bergflak an inventory number as the laffete at this stage was not serialised)

        The number shown on the forward mount bracket (29) is repeated on all sub assy for the bracket, showing it was required for them to stay together.
        Attached Files

        Comment

          #5
          search fire unit

          Well, done some clean back on the first half of the search fire/elevation unit.

          Search fire head and cross piece is brown, makes sense as the back end of the tripod top deck is brown. The rest of the unit is completely green, so that is what it will get.

          I was hoping that when cleaned the parts for the search fire unit would free up, ( the selector will only go to No 6 ) It turns out that the internal roller within the guide cam slot is NOT on the pin to the rear of the selector lever but free to move. This is well and truly stuck, so I will have to ponder a bit to get it released.

          Anyone completely stripped a search fire unit down ?? (I have never needed to before)

          Regards

          Tim

          Comment

            #6
            short update

            Pondering on the search fire unit continues, the roller bearing is well and truly stuck. Will post pick and with a bit of luck collective thoughts may come up with something.

            Dry fitted the upper works together, everything as should be. Got the blue on the way for bolts et al.
            Attached Files

            Comment

              #7
              Colour revision

              hey folks,

              I did a comparison with an original 1938 ammo can.............those colours I had were so far north it is embarrassing.

              In penance I have doubled round the parade square with an MG Lafette above my head 10 times!!

              Bergflak you were correct when you suggested the colours were a little hot! (you should have actually told me to get my eyes tested! but I think you were being polite)

              Pics attached with revised colours against the ammo can.

              Mea Culpa!
              Attached Files

              Comment

                #8
                I think if the paint had all those years of age like the ammo can they wouldn't be that far off. Whenever you match original paint even electronically the new paint still looks a little off. I repainted my gebirgslafette after stripping the yugo green off. I used the original paint under the bolt box. Its a big job when you strip them completely down.
                Did you take pics of all the waffenamt's wile you were working on it?
                Ed

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by mg42rip View Post
                  I think if the paint had all those years of age like the ammo can they wouldn't be that far off. Whenever you match original paint even electronically the new paint still looks a little off. I repainted my gebirgslafette after stripping the yugo green off. I used the original paint under the bolt box. Its a big job when you strip them completely down.
                  Did you take pics of all the waffenamt's wile you were working on it?
                  Ed
                  Hi MG42Rip.

                  I did indeed take pics whilst stripping down and cleaning. Some are legible and some are poorly struck. The main company logo to the head of the lower frame is pretty naff as its got a lot of brazing splatter around that area. All markings are visible beneath the new paint, even if you cant pic out the waffen No you can still see the waffen.

                  I restored a 41 Lafette some years ago and curiously the quality of build was actually better than this 37 dated one ( possibly due to the increased pace of equipping an ever expanding force with new kit??)

                  Comment

                    #10
                    small update dry fit

                    just a small up date, dry fitted the componants together to clear all the bolt holes etc, still cant find anyone for the anodising but got some leather and bluing on the way.
                    No quick hits as the weather is turning on this side of the pond and I do this stuff on the yard. Still most of what is left to do can be done inside.
                    Attached Files

                    Comment

                      #11
                      I wouldn't worry much if it looks too new. I think it's great! Just wait a bit...dust and dirt, together with natural oxidation will make it look OK in a couple of years. If not happy, you can dirty it with used car oil. Just play around with it. I finished restoring a can some days ago...It also looks too new but that's what happens when you paint them:

                      http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=859679&page=2

                      Carles

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Thanks for the kind words Carles, I was going to try the used oil trick (as it were)
                        The tripod is for my collection anyway so it is not going anywhere (until of course I shuffle off this mortal coil)

                        Pics below of the beast mounted, I had forgotten how tight the tolerance was at the pistol grip mount, shaved some paint off the mount bracket but as a natural wear point its bound to happen.
                        Attached Files

                        Comment

                          #13
                          When completed I intend to get the rig out and take some pics in a more "natural" setting

                          MG is BSW 37 Dated, non matching top cover. Mocked up feed tray but I do have a rusty/pitted reversible tray that might be rescuable (not sure yet)

                          A furthur quiery for anyone reading this.........Has anyone ever seen an original short top cover hinge pin? Or got one that they may be willing to part with??
                          Attached Files

                          Comment

                            #14
                            hello Tim,

                            That MG looks really nice What do you mean by a short top cover hinge pin? I'm also looking for a couple of good reversible feed trays for two of my MGs.

                            Carles

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Hi Carles,

                              Pretty sure I recall reading that the original top cover hinge pin was shorter but not by much. (volkes book?)

                              Original feed trays were stand alone items and not hinged to pivot up, but obviously reversible. When new pattern came out with the retaining loop the hinge pin was extended to allow this to happen.

                              I will have to dig out the reference.

                              If I can find a decent reversible tray and short pin the MG is pretty much to standard as issued in 37 (apart from of course any repair items etc that have occurred during service)

                              As it stands the top cover is non matching (came with the gun and numbered 762no waffens are destroyed but I believe the MG is a Russian capture ) and the butt whilst correct pattern has a non matched number on the wrist , is waffenampt, but has no engraved number to the Bakelite. All other components are numbered to the gun.
                              Trigger assy is machined for the rate reducer but has no parts within except for the blanking plug.

                              Comment

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