I've heard of people using a type of pen/marker for weathering Gargraves/Ross track - does anyone know of a brand that works well? Is there a size head that you recommend?

I have tried weathering my track with paint and brush - it is more tedious than ballasting. The main trouble is painting over the spikes in Ross track/switches - the paint flow path is interupted. I would expect the same issue with using a marker.

I have over 500' of track - unless I can find a method that works fairly uniform and fast I probably will leave it as-is.

Thanks!

Paul

Paul,
Spray painting the track sections before installation is the quickest and easiest way. I use the dark brown in the "camouflage" series of colors in the spray can. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this myself until about 300 ft of track was already installed.

If you haven't yet scenicked the areas alongside the tracks, you can still use an airbrush without much overspray. A good airbrush with fine control can even be used on a ballasted, completely scenicked layout.

Brush painting rails is always tedious. As you said, along with ballasting, it is not a fun part of layout building. But, the effects are so good, it is worth the effort.

Jim

Try This
the web site is Joe's Model Trains Co... There is a video you can see.

Look at this thread http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/368109793...951056164#8951056164
These markers are really easy to use and really fast too. But they have the same problem with the spikes.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Erictrainman,

As Jim stated above, your best bet is to spray paint the rails prior to ballasting. Even if your track is already down, it is STILL easier to spray paint. I did all my track that way, by using spray cans from Ace Hardware, no air brushing involved. I simply cleaned off the tops of the rails with solvent on a rag, wrapped around a piece of 1 X 2 wood, befor the paint got too dry.

At lunch break I went over the Michael's Craft store and they only had black and green Zig painty sticks. Elmers makes various markers but it's impossible to tell if they'll work. I guess I'll have to special order the Zigs or try another place. I'd like to try those first since they appear the least messy. Eric's results look very good, clay color. The paint wheel looks promising, and might do a better job over spiked rails?

Jim, HW, my track is about 75% ballasted now, as well as right-of-way scenes, and spray painting would probably mess things up.

Paul

Paul, go check out AC Moore on RT 3 just north of rt 320 in Broomall. In the back left hand side of the store, where the wood working stuff is, are paint markers that are meant for wood. I use them for everything and they work really well. It never occured to me to use them for coloring rails, but i think they'd be perfect, and they come in a bunch of rust/brown colors.
good luck,
Nick

Nick, thanks for the info!

I see you're in Willistown, is that Willistown Twp? I live in the northern part, Paoli/Malvern.

Paul

I'm with Jim and Hot Water on this one. Spray painting is by far the easiest, even if your track is already ballasted. I tried all the other methods mentioned above and none was satisfactory. Simply hold a piece of cardboard or a trim shield behind, or in front of, or both and hit the rail w/ a rattle can. I used a primer, the camo might have been better. In the below photo, the rails were sprayed after ballasting. I'll go back and do a little touch up when I get a chance.



The ones in the back I remembered to do before ballasting.

Oh Oh, the dreaded red X. Let me try that again.

Paul,

The Liberty group is using the zig paint pen in the merlot color.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul J. Kallus:
Nick, thanks for the info!

I see you're in Willistown, is that Willistown Twp? I live in the northern part, Paoli/Malvern.

Paul

Yup. One and the same. I checked on those markers. The one i use on styrene and other plastic is called 'woodcraft' marker. I tried it on a scrap piece of track and i wasn't real impressed with how it worked. However! I had another paint marker i picked up at that same AC Moore called 'DecoColor' this one worked really well and i did a 10" piece of track in seconds. When i finally get around to it, i will go this route.
Best of luck,
Nick

I tried the floquoil (sp?) markers and was not satisfied with the color. Per the recommendation of someone on this or another board: Ok I found it, it was from CSX AI on this forum and I quote "The paint color I use is from Polyscale's Military colors: PS505276 IJA BROWN 30108 (Imperial Japanese Army Brown)"
Looked the best and we tried about 10 different colors. With a small brush it didn't take long at all to paint the rails, and I actually found it relaxing. Dave

Deang,

Your rails look very realistic via the spray paint application.

I noticed the Zig paint sticks are oil based, probably important for painting metal.

Paul

quote:

Originally posted by Paul J. Kallus:
I noticed the Zig paint sticks are oil based, probably important for painting metal.

Good point.
How well go acrylics (water-based paints) stick?
Do any types of paint have adhesion problems to shiny tinplate track?
Does anyone prep their rails by sanding first?

Craft store acrylics work fine as long as they are on the thick side.

If you paint the rails before ballasting, just be gentle when pushing the ballast around. Also, the paint may soften slightly when flooding the ballast during the bonding process. But, all will be solid when everything is dry again.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Paul J. Kallus:
At lunch break I went over the Michael's Craft store and they only had black and green Zig painty sticks. Elmers makes various markers but it's impossible to tell if they'll work. I guess I'll have to special order the Zigs or try another place. I'd like to try those first since they appear the least messy. Eric's results look very good, clay color. The paint wheel looks promising, and might do a better job over spiked rails?

Jim, HW, my track is about 75% ballasted now, as well as right-of-way scenes, and spray painting would probably mess things up.

Paul

Avoid the Elmers. I tried them on my Gargraves and the paint would not adhere at all. It just beaded up and looked awful.

I will check when I get downstairs to see what the other brand I got was. they were at Michaels too and they worked great on my test pieces. I haven't decided if I'm going to do the rails or leave them as-is.

Deco paint markers work really well if your track is already laid, and you don't have to tape your track up or worry about over spray.

quote:

Originally posted by deang:
Oh Oh, the dreaded red X. Let me try that again.

Your track looks great did you paint the ties as well? Is that atlas or scale trax

Actually it's Gargraves w/ wood ties - I don't worry about overspray on the ties - I'll go back down the center w/ alcohol/ink spray and touch up elsewhere as needed. Here's a shot of some more or less finished track.

I just painted my yard rails using an airbrush and it was very easy to do. However, I had to make sure to wear a proper mask over my face to keep from breathing in the fine particles of paint. I used Floquoil Rail Brown and am planning on using rail tie brown for the ties.

Question ? I have already clean off the center rail. Do I need to clean the paint off the outside rails or if left on the rails, will that hurt my TMCC signal? Thanks

Just got some more paint in so I can finish painting the rest of the layout.

Don't forget that you need good electrical contact with the outer rails to complete the circuit with or without TMCC.

Three clean rails are always the key to good operation.

Jim

Acetone will remove acrylic paint. Use sparingly and beware of the dangers.

Rand

I posted this note below some time ago about the markers.

"My local hobby and craft stores do not carry any of the good colors of the Zig painty sticks. I ordered mine from CreateForLess. You can google them and order. HOWEVER, they only sell them in threes so I bought some. One color did not pan out for me so I sent them back and they are sending me a different color. I have already gone through 3 "Clay" colored and need more to finish up. How did the merlot color work out? I was thinking about that, but I may need a brown."

Good luck on your choice.