In the July 1999 MR, Michael Tylick says G Sellios, after ballasting, weathers the ties and ballast with a stain of Floquil Grimy Black and Rust. What does he mean by “stain” in this context?
I’d guess that it might be more correctly called a wash: paint, well-thinned, which alters the colour of that to which it’s applied, but doesn’t obliterate the original colour. A stain is a colouring agent which is absorbed into the material to which it’s applied, very unlikely unless the ties are actually wood. Some ballast may absorb such colouring, too, but not if it’s made from real rock (marble and a few other softer stone types excepted).
The degree to which either is thinned will alter the resultant effects, so it’s usually best to start with the colour heavily thinned, then either add more colour or build-up the colour with successive applications.
Wayne
Interesting use of words.
I think of staining as using something like Minwax stains or an alchol/ink mix to soak color into wooden parts. You can brush it on or drop the parts in a shallow pan of the mix.
Floquil is a paint, which I think of as being sprayed or brushed on and it covers rather than soaks in to the subject being colored.
My thought would be that the paint was thinned and thus didn’t throughly coat the items, just soaked in and altered the color, not completely coating it.
Just my thoughts.
Have fun,
Richard
Thanks, guys, for the responses. I’ve heard George call a wash a wash. In the article’s picture, the Grimy Black and the Rust make a very strong effect, not subtle at all. That’s why I asked the question. Thanks again.
This is an older article. Floequil used to make various colors of wood stains along w/ the laquer paint line also. The “staining” of thinned laquers especially Grimy black and rust would be for very heavy weathered more so for older yards/ sidings and engine facilities. Staining for weathering, acrylics allow for far better control of the thinned washes over a solvent base product. Staining wood ties for base color an exception.
Many of the oldie’s also used to use Old English (dark) furniture polish. I find it will fade out. Many of the stains already mention as well as your own mix of a wash will do a far better lasting staining job. minwax is readily available, the Early American and/or a mix w/ walnut is rather close to fresh creosote. I have found that using a thinned/ lighter staining and washes of various grays will aid in attaining a much closer look to weathered ties. The degree of weathering and between rail grime/ oil staining is up to you and your prototype. Old, unmaintained sidings and yards can be done w/ various grays to show that washed out almost silver/ gray ties. (think “driftwood”)
Freshly stained ties prior to any weathering (note hand painted darker ones throughout) to add character or replaced ties. For hand laid, sand ties to level tie tops and stain prior to laying rail.
Gets a bit tricky when mixing hand laid and flex to blend staining al