Tamiya Super Astute rere "Operation Blackout"

[sandkil]

I got a good deal on a built Super Astute rere.
Thought about how to go about this build/mod and figured I'll do a all black and gray version starting with the hardware.
I've never used Birchwood Casey Aluminum black and Super Blue (not yet received), but thought I'll give it a try.

[orangemazda]

Should be pretty cool. I’m interested to see how it looks!

[Dadio]

I've used the birchwood Casey ally black a lot and its not easy to get consistent results , the parts need to be super clean and even be rubbed over with wire wool just before application , it acts fast so be ready with a bowl of water or you just get a sooty deposit that rubs off easily , it can be buffed with T-Cut ( popular brand of car paint polish in the UK )after blacking and then a clear or matt lacquer to protect the finish , on some alloys it gives a nice blued finish , on pot metal just a sooty black , oh and wear protective gloves ,it does nasty things to skin and finger nails become easily broken if they get contaminated .
Best of luck .

[sandkil]

I've used the birchwood Casey ally black a lot and its not easy to get consistent results , the parts need to be super clean and even be rubbed over with wire wool just before application , it acts fast so be ready with a bowl of water or you just get a sooty deposit that rubs off easily , it can be buffed with T-Cut ( popular brand of car paint polish in the UK )after blacking and then a clear or matt lacquer to protect the finish , on some alloys it gives a nice blued finish , on pot metal just a sooty black , oh and wear protective gloves ,it does nasty things to skin and finger nails become easily broken if they get contaminated .
Best of luck .

Thanks for the advice Dadio, I've been doing some test trails and think i've got the hang of it.
Really surpricing how different alloys and metals react to this stuff depending on compositions oh and I promise to use gluves..

[Dadio]

Not sure if the bits your doing will allow this but if you can spin the part in a lath or drill chuck and apply the blue its easy to get a consistent finish then use a damp cloth to neutralize while still spinning and go straight to polish , it would work on shocks really well .It really is surprising the difference in colour you get with different metals .
Oh i almost forgot , don't get it on or use it near steel , it corrodes it fast ! I spilled some in my workshop on the concrete floor , didn't notice i'd done it and had some steel tubing in a rack nearby , next day it was all covered in rust !

[sandkil]

Not sure if the bits your doing will allow this but if you can spin the part in a lath or drill chuck and apply the blue its easy to get a consistent finish then use a damp cloth to neutralize while still spinning and go straight to polish , it would work on shocks really well .It really is surprising the difference in colour you get with different metals .
Oh i almost forgot , don't get it on or use it near steel , it corrodes it fast ! I spilled some in my workshop on the concrete floor , didn't notice i'd done it and had some steel tubing in a rack nearby , next day it was all covered in rust !

Now thats a great tip. Thank you so much.
Not alu black on steel. Check.
I will get Super Blue for the steel parts.

[XLR8]

I think this will be an interesting build - can't wait to see what you do with it.
I was completely unfamiliar with Tamiya Astute buggy until you started this post but I've been doing a little research - this is a very neat RC and it appears to have some real potential on the track. By chance did your copy come with ball-raced hinge pins?