[jaydv]

Just looked at a YouTube video where entire track and road bed were being spray painted with RustOleum Camouflage (Earth Brown).

After paint dryed, the tops of the rails were sanded with #2 sandpaper.

Anyone have any experience using this method?

 

[Lshearer]

I spray paint. But wipe paint off rail tops while still wet. A lot less work than sanding. Possibly less damage to rails also.


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[Old_Hobo]

NEVER use sandpaper on the rails, it will put scratches in them that will do nothing but collect dirt and grunge.....

 

[wvgca]

it's not a good idea to use abrasive media on the top of rails for any reason, a little thing called scratches ..
i paint the rails with an airbrush [held pretty flat] with krylon, a min of red, yellow and brown .. i then paint the ties with the same airbrush [held straight up] with grey and a bit of white, to represent weathered ties without creosote ...
i usually wipe the top of the rails with a mix of mostly mineral spirits and alcohol on a paper towel or rag

 

[Shdwdrgn]

I use a block of soft wood to wipe the top of the rails while the paint is still wet. Doesn't hurt the rails but it gets most of the paint off right away while leaving the paint in place on the side of the rails. You might still have to remove a little paint from the top after it finishes drying though.

 

[CTValleyRR]

I agree on not using sandpaper. The most aggressive I would ever get is a Bright Boy.

I use acrylic paints. I have brushes that are the width of the gauge, and the width of the ties on the outside of the rails. I can paint a 3' section of flextrack in about 30 seconds: one swipe down the center, wiggling the brush slightly from side to side, then one swipe down the outside of the track on each side, and one on the ends of the ties on each side. After the paint has dried for s few minutes, a quick rub on the top of the rails with a hard rubber eraser. I add random highlights of black, tan, and taupe (slight gray with a slight beige tint to it) using a dry-brush. I use a rust-colored paint pen to color the sides of the rails after installation.

 

[Jscullans]

I saw that same video and I use a chunk of 2x4 to clean the surface of the rails on my layout where I can and if I can’t I made a car that I have a furniture leg slider pad on the bottom that I apply alcohol to and run it through the area I can’t reach. With that I either use a locomotive to run it through or tie a few rail cars together and run them by hand. Sand paper is a terrible idea unless you really like to clean your track often

 

[traction fan]

Yes, I have

Just looked at a YouTube video where entire track and road bed were being spray painted with RustOleum Camouflage (Earth Brown).

After paint dryed, the tops of the rails were sanded with #2 sandpaper.

Anyone have any experience using this method?

jaydv;

I have done this, though I don't paint the roadbed. Perhaps the video was done by someone using a "roadbed track" like Kato unitrack, or Bachmann EZ-Track?
I make my own roadbed, and sub-roadbed, from Luan plywood. I do paint it, but with latex house paint and a paintbrush, not spray paint.

If you decide to try the spray paint method, be careful not to get too much paint on the track. That's all-too-easy to do, since spray cans put out a whole lot of paint in a big hurry! Keep the can at least 18" away from the track, and constantly moving. It's best to use several very light partial coats, rather than trying for full coverage in one coat. The spray can will cover in one coat, but in doing so, it will put enough paint on the track to gum up the rails. Easy does it!

A better way of painting track is to use an airbrush instead of a spray can. The amount of paint can be controlled much better, and you can safely spray from much closer. I paint the entire track, rails and ties, with an airbrush first. Then I paint the sides of the rails a different color than the ties, using a small artist's brush. The photo shows one of my scratch-built turnouts that was painted this way.

I disagree about the use of sandpaper to remove paint. I have used fine grit sandpaper and had no problem with the track. If you prefer to not use sandpaper, a paper towel dampened with a little alcohol should remove the paint. The "wipe the rails with a piece of wood, while the paint is still wet" method works too, but you have to be quick, since spray paint dries pretty fast.

good luck, have fun!

Traction Fan :smilie_daumenpos:

 

[CambriaArea51]

I've used the spray cans but not the sandpaper. Rustoleum Roof Accents Weathered wood on the ties,airbrushed rust on the sides.

 

[Shdwdrgn]

How did you manage to airbrush the track without getting any on the painted ties???

 

[LateStarter]

For track areas (and just about any other) I sometimes use powdered Earth colors, sifted onto water-dampened surfaces.
The sundry colors available are all excellent for duplicating any Earth tone, and can easily be blended before sifting.
Mixed and sifted dry with plaster of Paris powder, it sets up solid, and makes very effective and permanent scenery... in virtually any color.

https://www.earthpigments.com/dry-powder-pigments/

 

[wvgca]

How did you manage to airbrush the track without getting any on the painted ties???

with the airbrush basically flat, spraying straight sideways, there is very little that gets on the ties , some but not much at all ...

 

[Panther]

Been doing this since forever, even added extra wooden ties to add to realism.

Dan