Thoughts on restoration?

[JohnnyMac]

Hey all,
My father was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 out of the UK in WWII. He brought back a few relics and I've been packing this around for a number of years. With all this awesome "Covid-19" vacation time was thinking about some projects. What do you folks think about restoring/cleaning up this AN-M8 flare gun? Or do you think the patina (rust) on it gives it character and should be left alone? And if restoring/cleaning up, any suggestions on a good rust remover?

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[Stomper]

Your dad was a ball-turret gunner over Europe?!!!


I always think of this when I hear "ball-turret gunner"....

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.



Sorry, back on topic!

 

[Andy54Hawken]

If it was mine...
I'd use some Kroil and bronze wool on the rust....Lightly just to remove the rust , not buff out any pits that may be there.
Andy

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Yeah, i'd do something with that, there is a bunch that's gone past patina i'm afraid.

 

[JohnnyMac]

Your dad was a ball-turret gunner over Europe?!!!


I always think of this when I hear "ball-turret gunner"....

From my mother's sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.



Sorry, back on topic!

I've heard that one before. Kind of surreal and probably happened more than a guy would think. He finished his 35 missions and made it back. Wasn't much to talk about it, but had a few pretty jaw-dropping stories....

If it was mine...
I'd use some Kroil and bronze wool on the rust....Lightly just to remove the rust , not buff out any pits that may be there.
Andy

Thanks for the suggestion Andy. I'll give her a shot.

~Johnny