I don’t know if anyone’s ever tried making some little-used or abandoned rusty spurs, but within a few weeks (possibly this weekend), I’m going to be doing this outside with 027 track, of which I have quite a bit. Plans are to sand and solder the tops of the rails and then sit and watch them weather naturally in the rain and snow. The bead of solder along the top should allow operations. I’m thinking that eventually, they’ll rust away completely, but that should take a long time, judging from my rail experiment last October (the 027 rail is still outside and still rusty but is holding up very well).
These spurs will be connected to my current code 148 nickel-silver rail
Here’s the rusty rail experiment, still holding up well (photo taken last fall but rail looks now to be in about the same shape):
Dave, I’ve been painting the sides of my Gargraves rails. Real rust is a dangerous thing, and not advisable to start. The bright orange rust isn’t even that realistic. Go out and look at the sides of actual rail.
Dave, I suppose if particles were flaking off, they could get into the motor, especially if you have magnetraction. I’ve just always been of the opinion that rust should be avoided at all cost. I would rather simulate rust than encourage it.
Living in the land of ice and snow, where they use salt on the roads, car washes here make a lot of money. After 13 years my truck is starting to show signs.
Most of the time when people say they have rusty track, the recommendation is to throw it away. From now on, I’ll say “send it to Dave”.[:O][:P][;)][:o)]
I know you’re not a Navy man, you’re a Marine, but isn’t rust still the enemy?
There was an article about this in one of the recent Model Railroad magazines, not sure which one, but I think either MR or MRC. I’ll try to find it but my filling system (no-existent) isn’t to good. Of course this was on an indoor layout with fake rust.