I picked up a paint pen from wally world and tested it out on a piece of flex. it didn't adhere that great. should I wipe it down with something first? also getting to the inside with that pen was a little tough.. should I just brush it? im just wondering if im opening a can of worms with this.
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I picked up a paint pen from wally world and tested it out on a piece of flex. it didn't adhere that great. should I wipe it down with something first? also getting to the inside with that pen was a little tough.. should I just brush it? im just wondering if im opening a can of worms with this.
90% IPA will be fine.
AG.
thanks. im torn weather or not to go this route, or the airbrushing of the whole thing in one color.. sort of a dark dirty grey type of thing. ive seen it on the forum , but don't know the exact color. I kind of dig the rust brown look , but like the weathered look of all three as well.
Painted rails look great but it's a job. I haven't done it on my 3-rail tracks because I have some concern whether it might seep into the rail joints and reduce the continuity. A lot of my old 3-rail track was naturally rusted and I just sanded the tops and reamed the end holes.
If you haven't ballasted the track yet, it is very simple. I used a Charcoal Green spray can by Rustoleum (which is no longer produced, but some sort of 'Camo Brown' is now available). I sprayed both sides of the 3 rails, including the ties. When the spray paint began to set, I wiped the tops of the rails with a lacquer thinner moistened red cotton rag, wrapped around a piece of 1" X 2" wood. One or two days later, I spray painted more track, using the same process.
Most of the layout has been, or will be getting airbrushed after the track is down and wired. Yes...paint the center rail. NO- is does not effect the DCS, or TMCC/Legacy signals. The paint does not create any voltage drops. Just make sure all your joints are tight when putting the track down.
These storage tracks and switches were painted outside with camo flat brown spray cans, and then installed, just because it was easier.
1st level of texture and weathering applied to the spray bombed storage tracks.
pretty cool. so you painted rails and ties ..everything? did you hang them and spray?
pretty cool. so you painted rails and ties ..everything? did you hang them and spray?
I didn't. The whole layout had the track & turnouts laid on VinylBed roadbed, completely wired and totally finished, THEN I spray painted all the track/turnouts, cleaned the rail tops, and some days later, I sprayed some more, until the whole layout had all the track/turnouts completely weathered. Then, and only then, did we begine ballasting and scenery.
pretty cool. so you painted rails and ties ..everything? did you hang them and spray?
the track that was sprayed outside with spray cans was laid on cardboard, and everything was covered. ties, rails, frogs... everything
the airbrushed track was focused on the rails only, but of course the ties get some paint too. no big deal though because when you ballast and weather the tracks, it all blends together nicely
Brown camo and weatherize powder.
AG
AG, thanks for sharing your superior modeling skills and technique here on the forum.
I used Floquil rail brown on my main line and a mixture of rail brown and grimy black for yard tracks. I paint lightly used rails with Floquil rust and weathering chalks.
With Floquil no longer produced I'll have to find a substitute when my supply runs out.
When I'm finished, I clean the rail tops with a solvent.
About a month ago, I bought a WS rusty rail paint pen. I found that I had to clean the sides of the rail with alcohol or else the pen tip picked up stain (traces of which were left from when I stained the ties) and stopped working. I didn't have much problem getting sides of the rails painted except on switches. I bought 2 more paint pens a few weeks ago. It looks OK...more realistic than shiny tin. But not as nice as some the guys that use an airbrush.
This section of abandoned track was painted using all powders then sealed with a dull coat. Best success I've had yet. Even better the closer you zoom in the better it looks because of the grit from the powders. 
This section was airbrushed using Testors Model Master Enamel Raw Umber and then regular enamel Testors flat Brown. 
I believe I read a post saying one needs to be careful when painting track such as Atlas O. The poster said paint got inside the rail joiners and he lost electrical conductivity.
Joe
Joe I've never had an issue with losing electrical conductivity after painting track on any of the layouts I've done, N scale, HO, or O. The key is making all your rail joints tight when you install the track, which you should do anyway.
I recently bought this airbrush to finish up painting the track on the unfinished half of the layout:
Joe I've never had an issue with losing electrical conductivity after painting track on any of the layouts I've done, N scale, HO, or O. The key is making all your rail joints tight when you install the track, which you should do anyway.
I recently bought this airbrush to finish up painting the track on the unfinished half of the layout:
Thread revival!
What if I have Gargraves track with wood ties? It seems the paint would be difficult, at best, to remove from the ties.
Thanks - Ponz
Joe's rusty rail paint from Walthers and !/4" paintbrush works well. The kit comes with a small roller and squeeze bottle. Worthless just get the paint.
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