You can frequently find badges in this condition on ebay. This is one off my 77 Buffalo. First operation is to wash it in hot soapy water - scrubbing with a toothbrush.
Next I carefully covered all the orange metalflake using a tooth pick and general purpose grease. You will see why.
Next I laid out 2 sheets of common printer paper. You wil need this to be perfectly flat. Also you need to moisten the paper with lacquer thinner when the time comes.
Next I shot the entire thing whth rattle can black (Plasti-Kote). When I got this in the sun for the photo, I could see it needed a little more so I gave it a second coat.
Let it dry about 20 minutes. Remember to moisten the paper with lacquer thinner. Then you simply drag the face of the badge accross the paper till all the black is gone. Keep a q-tip handy (also moistened with thinner) to touch up any low spots in the metal.
Here it is right after the previous operation. Now all that is left to do is remove the grease you applied earlier. I let the paint dry a day or two before doing that.
Viola! Almost as good as new!
Looked great when installed.
I useed the same paper drag to refurbish my metal ram air emblems. The metal ones were the originals and I wanted to keep them. They are now on Red Zone.
