Except that being high-manganese steel like all British tracks they didn't wear to a graphite or steel color and they rarely displayed orange rust.

Worn areas of manganese steel tracks are a goldy-brown metallic color that is very hard to represent accurately. But it is neither silvery nor graphite.

Oxidation gave a grey-brown surface patina. The manganese content inhibited rust formation - for decades.

If this vehicle is one that ended up stuck on the pebble beach, I wonder if the whole of the track link surface would have been polished by the action of the pebbles, particularly if the tank had bellied and tried to free itself. It would have taken weeks or months for those worn areas to develop an oxidized patina.

Jeff

That is coming along great, excellent job. Just a note, the track stowed on the fender would not have the pads shiny, they would be corroded.

Kevin

This is looking great. Especially the rust job on the tracks and the exhaust, really eye catching.

Perhaps you should add some variation to the rust tones on the spare tracks, so as not to look painted. A slightly different color pigment or wash, slightly darker to simulate old rust.

May I suggest something more. Wet the surface of the spare tracks with turpentine or enamel thinner, then take some pigments with your brush and stroke in on the surface. Do not move horizontally, stroke the brush with the pigment. This will give it a more uneven look. Apply thinner only where you want your pigments to stick.