Weathering Rails ...

[goscrewyourselves]

What do you guys use to weather your rails - rusty them up or whatever?

I have heard acrylic paint then wipe the tops of the rails off but any other ideas what wont effect the electrical conductivity of the rails?

Am putting together a small (very small) diorama and would like to try weathering the rails before I try it on my actual layout.

 

[goscrewyourselves]

How does this look?

Please be honest, if it doesn't look right tell me and tell me why it doesn't please.

 

[logandsawman]

How does this look?

Please be honest, if it doesn't look right tell me and tell me why it doesn't please.

had to tell but I think the sides of the rails need more plus the color is a little hit and miss.

The Woodland Scenics rail paint pen "rusty rail" is a good color and works well, however you may need to go over the rail several times to get good consistent rust.

I have had success mixing some tan paint with rust powder in a small container, adding a little water as necessary, and spreading that on the sides of the rails with a small brush.

On my old layout I had all the rail treated with rust. So far have not gotten around to that on the new layout, however the salvaged track I used still looks good where I painted it or treated with the W.S. product.

When I got really carried away I painted the rail but used a slightly darker shade on the tie plates. Not visible unless you look really close, which no one does but me and maybe some other OCD persons

 

[RIGuyUK]

How does this look?

Please be honest, if it doesn't look right tell me and tell me why it doesn't please.

Its a good start but does need a couple more passes to get a consistent coverage, I'd add a bit more brown/rust (or burnt umber if you have any). Don't worry about getting paint on the rail heads, it can be easily cleaned off with IPA afterwards

 

[logandsawman]

Its a good start but does need a couple more passes to get a consistent coverage, I'd add a bit more brown/rust (or burnt umber if you have any). Don't worry about getting paint on the rail heads, it can be easily cleaned off with IPA afterwards

I usually rub the top of my rails with a clean finger or thumb right along as I am doing the painting, or even scrape it off with a fingernail if it dries a little.

You know, some guys spray the whole track with spray paint and are quite happy with it, in that case is the IPA you are talking about India Pale Ale?


Dave LASM

 

[RIGuyUK]

I usually rub the top of my rails with a clean finger or thumb right along as I am doing the painting, or even scrape it off with a fingernail if it dries a little.

You know, some guys spray the whole track with spray paint and are quite happy with it, in that case is the IPA you are talking about India Pale Ale?


Dave LASM

Hi Dave

I always spray the whole of my track with a dull flat brown colour, ballast then weather. Its at that point I clean the railheads, with Isopropyl Alcohol, and sit back and enjoy an Indian Pale Ale whilst admiring my handiwork!

 

[goscrewyourselves]

An update - this is the color of the rails that are on the NS line next to our house:

A consistent brown/black color very similar to Vallejo Black/Brown German Cam

 

[Sirfoldalot]

TONY -- If (lucky you) can walk out and look at the real thing, Why are you asking us?

 

[logandsawman]

TONY -- If (lucky you) can walk out and look at the real thing, Why are you asking us?

he knew he didn't have it quite right just wanted to get our confirmation

 

[goscrewyourselves]

TONY -- If (lucky you) can walk out and look at the real thing, Why are you asking us?

Because I wasn't asking about the "coloring"; I was asking HOW you guys to do it, what you use etc ... the coloring just seeped into the conversation

 

[AirbrushNo5]

I painted my flex track ties with the airbrush using Tamiya paints in varying grey tones ( about 5 different colours )
Once the track was on the layout, I airbrushed the rails a dark grime colour…
Then a lot of tie touch-up…
Finally I scraped the paint off the rail tops with a piece of wood and an alcohol soaked scrap of old t-shirt

 

[Selector]

Tamiya 'Red Brown:

Poly Scale 'Railroad Tie Brown' on the through track, Floquil 'Rust' on the diverging track:

 

[goscrewyourselves]

I got the Vallejo stuff today and am quite impressed with it. You don't get very much BUUT it does seem to go a long long way meaning it spreads and covers very well

 

[RIGuyUK]

Vallejo, MIG Ammo and AK Interactive paints are my go-to these days, a huge range of colours and as you say, go a very long way.

The pre-thinned Vallejo Air range is great, despite being thinned for airbrush use, I mostly brush with them

I very rarely use enamels these days

 

[goscrewyourselves]

I very rarely use enamels these days

Grief, I can't remember the last time I used enamel paints - trying to think ??? Nah, too early

 

[CambriaArea51]

When I did the last module I mixed rust and a little tie brown and airbrushed the rails. For the ties I believe it was Rust-Oleum weathered roof brown (spray can) for the ties. Hard to see from the picks.

 

[dave1905]

I handlay and spray the rails Rustoleum Camo Brown before I lay them. The ties I stain a grey color using black shoe leather dye.

 

[AirbrushNo5]

Tony, I use the Vallejo German Dark Brown to touch up the Tamiya Grime mix on the rails when I pop off stray ballast on the rail sides…

 

[C&OMtnMan]

So, help me out here:

You paint your rails,
You paint your ties,
You lay your ballast..

…If you set your ballast with one of those glue (or matte medium) in water & isopropyl alcohol mixes, does that negatively affect your painted rails and ties?

 

[RIGuyUK]

So, help me out here:

You paint your rails,
You paint your ties,
You lay your ballast..

…If you set your ballast with one of those glue (or matte medium) in water & isopropyl alcohol mixes, does that negatively affect your painted rails and ties?

If you use too strong a water/IPA mix it may affect the paint work and the plastic on the ties, glue and matte mediums wont affect at all