Methods to weather tow cables?

[Mark Allen]

Hello group. Im looking for ideas on how to weather, or age the look of the tow cables. Would rather not paint them though.

Chemically?

[Mark Heaps]

What is it that you are trying to achieve and on what model ? Is it supposed to depict a tank in use or an 70 year old museum piece ?
I crewed a Chieftain ARV ( Armoured Recovery Vehicle ) and also a Chieftain ARRV ( Armoured Repair & Recovery Vehicle ), the difference between the two variants was the ARRV also had a jib / crane for doing packlifts. Both just before they were superceded, the ARV being replaced with an ARRV, and then the ChARRV (Chieftain ARRV ) by a CRARRV ( Challenger ARRV ).
Tow cables on both vehicles although many years old ( most likely issued with the vehicle ) were not rusty, just dull from oxidisation, and dirty from what muck was thrown up from the tracks , or the mud we dragged them through when having to use them, during each exercise before the post-ex wash-down.
If yours is to be a running model, I would suggest a matt varnish to take the shine off and let your running terrain deal with the rest. Proper "weathering".

[Brian Ostlind]

https://www.epi.com/black-oxide-products.html

[Mark Allen]

Mark. I am doing a late production King Tiger. Not looking for a very old look as none of them lasted that long. But want to tone down the bright steel look. Something like cable that has been out a while and gets grayish white.

Brian. I used their product for darkening the tracks, very pleased with the result. And the steel versions are way cheaper than the aluminum one!

[Gary Richardson]

Hi Mark

For my late Tiger I used a blow torch on the cables which removed all the shine and 'aged' them. I did then add some dirt and light rust dragged on with a cloth. I believe other have used the blow torch method as well.

Regards
Gary

[Ed Groenenberg]

I used gun blue (from Ballistol) on the steel ropes.
It initially was bluish (as expected), but after 2 days, they were brown and slightly rusty.

[William Gardeniers]

Hello

I use normal vinegar 60 euro cent a Liter, put them 2 weeks In a bucket and 1 day in the rain.

[Mark Allen]

Thank you gents for all the suggesstions. Really like the vinegar method. Of course I might have to wait 6 months for the next rainy day...