I’ve started weathering my track - using an airbrush. But, the paints seem so expensive…and I’m still learning how to airbrush well cause the bloody thing clogs so much.
Would seem that spraypaint would be another easier and cheaper alternative.
Any advice?
If spray - what brand/color do you have experience with? Browns? Reds? Rusts? I found Rustoleum Rust Spray Paint (at least on the web - no store carries it yet except Amazon.com!) Should I try that?
I read some threads where people use Floquil Rail Brown (right?) in a spray can. Is there a way to get “normal paint” loaded into a spray can?
I use Rust-Oleum Rusty metal primer spray (available at Wal-Mart) to give my rails a really good rust color.I mask off the ties and spray the rails. After it dries, i lightly sand the paint from the top and inside top edge of the rails.
I use cheap Wally World Acrylic craft paints. I too found that using MRR paint RR tie brown got a bit expensive so I matched the color as close as I could with cheap acrylic, watered it down a bit and then paint the ties. I like to use a medium size flat brush. It goes quite quickly and clean up is much faster than with an airbrush. I also don’t worry about masking anything. I then use a rust colored mixture of the same type of paint and a thin brush and go down the sides of the rails. Clean the rail heads with a bright-boy or equivalent and you are done.
I’ve used the Floquil spray cans and my air brush. Floquil is always expensive, regardless of bottle or can. I have found that the airbrush will go further and is less expensive. However, when I was doing it before I did not have a compressor so the price of compressed air took the cost back to equal with the spray cans. I think the Rustoleum may be the way to go. I always find getting the paint off the rail tops and such to be a challenge, regardless of the method used to paint.
I do the same except that I don’t mask the ties since they get repainted with a 1/2" brush anyway. I also put a bit of oil on the railheads before painting. It makes them easier to clean.
I picked up the rust primer, and tested it last night. Looks great - a LOT easier to put on (comes in spraycan and small/medium size cans). I am not masking my ties – am going to repaint them, as several have suggested. Easier to paint those with a brush afterwards, then paint the railsides with a brush! Seems easier to spray the rails, and touch up the ties! But, I say tom-ay-to, you say tom-ah-to. Whatever works!
Thanks again for the input - I had looked at several paint stores, and had not seen the rust primer. Now I’m all set!
(PS - doing the oil thing as well…I’m all for ease! Where I need to work, I will…where I can make it easier, I’ll take it…)