Good day. i just returned to the hobby after nearly 20 yrs. absents. I just started a free-mo project, I have the track laid, and want to weather the rails, before the ballast go’s down. Any suggestions? Thnxs Chub.
I like easy, quick, inexpensive, and I do not have an air brush. Brushing by hand is to much work. I use Floquil Railroad Colors 130007/Rail Brown in a 3 Oz spray can. I lay some loose news paper along the right of way to minimize over spray, and put a piece of tape on ground throws. I spray a small area at a time, perhaps 3 feet, and wipe off rail tops with a cloth on a finger. One paint is dry, I run a “track bright” on rail tops to clean off any residue. Results look good to me. Have been using this method for over 20 years. Works best if you spray track BEFORE any scenery. Next I do scenery, ground foam etc. Ballast is last. Yes, rails and ties are same color, but after ballast, who can tell.
I use Neo-Lube from the MicroMark catalogue, although I do it before the track is laid. It’s actually not paint, but a graphite-based electronics lubricant. It brushes on like paint, and dries to a dark gray flat finish. A nice thing about it is, unlike paint, it conducts electricity.
Floquil Roof Brown works good too. I use Rustoleum flat brown and Krylon Camoflauge brown on mine. Use a thinned wash of rust color on the sides of the rails after ballasting.
Just a thought, has anyone tried the Floquill weathering markers, good news, they’re on sale now!! http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?quick=weathering+marker will get you there. [:)]
I use a combination of Floquil boxcar red and grimy black directly from the spray can, and before any scenery or ballast is laid on. Then I wipe the tops of the rails with a rag, and then use a brite boy (lightly) on the railheads to clean them off thoroughly. It’s worked for me the past seven years.
Tom