Just a quick note for fruilmodel Track builders, Birchwood casey- Aluminum Black, works well on fruilmodel track. overnight soak with no bubble or crusty residue. $8.99.


ATL- 06-Blacken-it. slight deterioration of pin and track
ATL- 01-Aluminum Black-Good color and no deterioration.
ATL- 07-Blacken-it Deteriorated pins and non usable

Hi, John, I am familiar with Birchwood Casey products and will look into this, but your post implies you let the tracks soak in the Blacken-It overnight. That's not recommended. The larger track pieces will probably be OK, but the wires deteriorate as you observed.

Just thought I should clarify that, as I've had no problems with Blacken-It when used according to its instructions.

i thought you where supposed to submerge it for a minute at most then rinse it off?
I have heard of people leaving the smaller tracks (panzer 1/2 etc) and forgetting them only to find a pile of slag the next day

Correct, leaving soft metal in solutions such as Blacken-It for more than a brief period of time will allow the solution to attack and destroy the metal.

John: I will try the Aluminum Black if I can find it.

An alternative product is Black Traks from TIHobbies.

Not for those of us in the US, however.