What is the best way to realistically weather HO, Code 83 and 70 Rail? My layout is set in the Southern California, not exactly desert but pretty dry. I’ve tested the Micro Engineering blue liquid stuff but it didn’t change the rail at all, it was like I never even put it on there.
Thanks! [8D]
Check out this thread from last month. It will get you started.
http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/993282/ShowPost.aspx
Karl
Are you a Model Railroader subscriber? If you are and you get the e-mailed newsletter that MRR sends out there was a link this week to a free video PDF that had Joe Furgate’s technique for weathering and ballasting track. It is very good, so you might want to contact MRR customer service and see about getting it. I learned some new ideas from his technique. Up until now I have been using acrylic paint in a brown color to paint the ties and a rust colored acrylic to paint the sides of the rails.
The photo above was taken two summers ago about 20 miles from where I lived during my teens. It is in south-central British Columbia, a semi-arid region where sage brush, tumble weed, and Jack Pines abound. As you can see, the double mains are rusty on the left, and the sidings seem to be more grimy. Floquil “Rust” does a superb job…just replace the top on the bottle and give it a good shake every two or three minutes to keep the rust in suspension. For the siding look, I use Polly Scale “Railroad Tie Brown.”
Thanks for the help guys! Mainly I was unsure of what exact colors are being chosen to do the job. I’ve run trains on many miles of track and I know what the prototype looks like, it’s just the matter of trying to find the best methods of weathering it.
Thank You Again!
Here’s the link to Joe Fugate’s ballasting and weathering thats in MRR