I've seen genuine "Russia iron" a few times, on the USS Olympia, on the B&O William Mason, etc. In each case at first glance the impression was of high gloss darker grey (but certainly not black) paint. Only on closer inspection did it become apparent that it was not paint at all, but the surface of the metal itself.
I attempted to to duplicate the color by powder coating the jacket on my boat boiler, but got it too light a shade due as much as anything to poor light conditions at the powder coating shop, and a tight deadline on my part. Never the less, the resulting jacket was almost as reflective as a mirror when it came to colors. when laid horizontally in the grass on a sunny day, the grey completely disappeared, and appeared to be Kodachrome green on the lower half, and sky blue on the upper half. When standing vertical, it doesn't get the chance to reflect the sky, but the look is still pleasing.
BTW, the cost to powder coat two jacket halves inside and out, along with half a dozen other small pieces? $50.
Stathi, #168 does look magnificent, but she is still missing her #3 driver, leaving an unsightly gap between #2 and #4!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2019 11:34AM by Kelly Anderson.