Ballasting and weathering track (redux)

[Jacob Z]

I've looked at a thousand videos and articles about ballasting and weathering track, and I'm more confused than when I started.

(If it matters, I'm working in N gauge). There seem to be three basic schools of thought:

1. In most of the videos the modeler meticulously paints the rails and ties (and in some cases, the shoes), then applies glue equally meticulously with a dropper or syringe.

2. In others, it is similar to the above but using a pen to color the rails. That looks easier for somebody with my limited craft skills, especially on N gauge track.

3. And in a few, I've seen people spray the whole thing with scenic cement, and then wipe off the rails. I've also seen one where they weather the rails and the ballast together with an airbrush and some sort of grime paint mixture.

To my beginner's mind, option 3 seems like it would be a whole lot easier. Is there a reason more people don't do it that way?

Also there seem to be two schools regarding order of operations: Either paint the track, then ballast; or ballast, then paint the track. Opinions?

 

[logandsawman]

Do not overthink this. There is no right or wrong answer.

You can spend as much or little time on the ballast/weathering process as you like, go with a balance of what looks good and how much time you want to spend doing this.

Dave LASM

 

[Jacob Z]

Overthinking things is my core competency

 

[NVSrr1500]

There are many methods to replicate the many ways things weather in different areas, and different time frames. The best advice. look at the time frame and area you are working in. Look at the different methods to see which works best to replicate the weathering in that time space. Most methods will be eliminated leaving the hand full that will work for your time and space.

The reason some paint the rail and ties first. Get that base coloring in place. then ballast then apply weathering. the weathering of the rail and ties affects the ballast and the ballast affects the tie and rails. Painting and weathering being two separate process.

paint pens are nothing more than a different way to apply paint. Same colors as in the bottles. Paint pens can take longer, when trying to get around the tie plates, pigtails, and spikes. Lot tougher to get into tight spaces with them than a paint brush. A combination of pen and brush is very doable.

 

[KB02]

Overthinking things is my core competency

This applies to so many of us!

My personal order of operations is to paint and weather the track then ballast as a last step. Reasoning: I won't get paint on the ballast.
To this point, I have only, really, started painting and weathering my rails on the new modules I have been building. Prior to that, I only ballasted. And quite frankly my older rails look fine.

Air brushes are nice. I don't have one. I just painted rails on a 4' module containing about 10' feet of HO track last night with a simply brush. I won't lie; it was a pain in the butt. Definitely going to check out one of those paint pens for the next section.

 

[Marlin39]

Yes, don't over think this. You're in N scale. Track is hard to see anyways.

Just buy a spray can of Krylon "Camouflage" Earth Brown and spray the track from both sides.

While it's still wet wipe off the top rails using the spray can top, with a piece of paper towel wrapped around it soaked in mineral spirits, to clean it. Don't forget to cover the switch points with blue painters tape.

 

[Jacob Z]

I got a paint pen for the section that I foolishly ballasted before painting. Then I'm going to try airbrushing on the unballasted remainder of the layout. I will start in a section that will eventually be hidden in a tunnel to get a better idea of whether it will work for me.

 

[Len Turner]

I usually paint the rails first, weather the ties, then ballast. To clean the paint from the top of the rails, I use a 1"x 2" piece of balsa that I saw off of a 6" long piece. Cut about 3/4' thick so you have a 1"x2"x 3/4". Soak one side of it in appropriate thinner (I use 91% alcohol). Scrub the track down with the wet side first then go back over with dry side. After that, your normal track cleaner should remove what little residue is left.