Many years ago I read or heard about using construction machines (tracked excavators, bulldozers etc) as reference for track weathering.
This video is about replacing the idlers on an excavator. Plenty of close-ups.
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Yeah, he does some impressive repair and fabrication work. similar to Oz Armor.
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Useful for those modelers who know what material they’re modeling. Many tracks were made from Manganese. That would rule out those who liberally apply rust chips to HMMWVs, M109 series, etc…
What’s really interesting is that the idler is not bright steel as often modeled, but rather has a nice patina of rust even after being driven. That’s why I like to look at the weathering on the thing I’m actually weathering.
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Having been an equipment operator for years, I always look at how modellers show the wear surfaces on tracks, blades and the spades, on vehicles and artillery pieces. Unless they were in use the bare metal surfaces would quickly acquire a dull patina of light rust, Especially in a humid or damp climate. That, and the nooks and crannies where dirt and mud will build up are things I almost always notice, along with grease buildup around joint surfaces and fuel/oil spills. Most operators are not the neatest people. Ha ha Wayne
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Years ago, a bulldozer was working nearby and we allowed the driver to park in our backyard in evenings and weekends. Being a keen AFV modeller I noticed how the tracks sprocket and idler would acquire a light patina of rust over the weekend but that all disappeared after a days work. Lots of dirt and dust of course. But no rust when it was active.
Of course this wasn’t directly comparable with tanks because as mentioned above, manganese was used for tank tracks.
Tank armour itself isn’t prone to rust either. Some AFV modellers apply lots of rust very inappropriately.
I remember coming across an gutted, abandoned and neglected Sherman on a French roadside near Roscoff, a few years ago. Even though it had been sitting there for years. There was rust but not nearly as much as you might think.
So as has been said, do your research.
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I think most of the “rust” is just accumulated dirt.
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The tracks are manganese steel Mangalloy - Wikipedia
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