Dumb modeler wants to know. I have never seen a real Spandau or Vickers. I have seen artists renderings and photos but I am still not sure what I am looking at. The obvious answer would seem to be simply Black. But are we talking about black paint or a blackened metal? How about polished metal details? Were there any? I am working in 1/72nd scale so maybe the last question is academic. I am tired of vacillating between black and metallic blacks such as graphite,etc.so I await the advice of the experts. Thanks in advance for your help and for not laughing too hard.
Bob E

Bob,
Speaking from a view point of complete ignorance I usually work on the principle that if I don’t know, then I’ll guess. So for me, its matt black and then dry brush with “gunmetal” or “oily steel”. This gives a suitable metallic looking gun with the black detail showing through as shadow on the cooling fins etc.
Chris

Chris,
Thanks for the quick reply. I have done that and I do like the way it looks. I just have this niggling uncertainty about what I'm trying to reproduce. ???
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Bob

BobE,
I build in 1/48th scale so my following comments may not be practical in 1/72nd.
First, I paint the machine gun in flat black. Then I go over it with a very dark grey (Model Master Interior Black). This leaves the flat black in the lower areas as contrast to the dark grey. Finally, I dry brush the raised areas and details with "steel". With the more detailed guns that use photo etch cooling jackets I paint the jackets dark grey and the barrel steel so it can be seen through the jacket perforations.
Also, I always drill out the end of the barrel (number 80 drill bit) and make sure a little flat black gets in there and add a small highlight of "steel" or chrome silver around the edge of the hole. Lewis gun magazines are painted a lighter shade of dark grey around the outer part, dark grey inner, tan strap, and slight "steel" highlighting dry brushed.
Sorry,I got a bit long winded here, just like painting machine guns.
RichMC1

A light spray of Tamyia "gunmetal" over a flat black gun gives a very convincing effect.

Greetings all. At the Lafayette Foundation we have four machine guns. Vickers 11mm Balloon gun (outwardly identical with the 7mm Vickers), Lewis, Spandau and a Schwarzlos. From this and the fellow that seems to be in the know, Dave Watts- Spandau from the factory were outwardly covered in a baked on black enamel. In 1/48, I use a semigloss with a light dry brush of steel. On the allied weapons (Vickers and Lewis) bare steel or as mentioned an oily steel colour is very close. Often the sights (ring and bead or the like) appear to be in a darker anodised metal. Hope this helps. ;)

Thank you all.
Stephen, that is exactly what I was trying to find out. Wanted to know just what type of finish I was trying to reproduce. Painted for the Spandaus and metal for the Vickers and Lewis.
Bob (not as dumb as before) E

I paint mine always in pink, sometimes with green dots.
:)

Sorry, I couldn't resist...

Grzegor,
You could have resisted. You just didn't want to. I think I'll ignore your advice for now. Maybe some day trying to achieve all this impossible accuracy will push me over the edge and pink machine guns will seem like a GREAT idea!
Bob ::)