Best Rail colour

[Junctionmad]

My friend thinks , that orange derived " rust " colours for rail are too stark  he sprays his basically with sleeper grime .  Has anyone any suggestion as the best colours to spray rail and chairs to represent the typical colours , but equally to ensure a " muted" effect 

 

 

thanks 

 

Dave 

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

There is no one 'best' colour, as observation of real track will quickly demonstrate. But for track that has been in place long term and well used, I'd go for a dull brown grey 'grime'.

[Jeff Smith]

For established track with timber sleepers an overall brown/grey for rail, chairs/clips and sleepers is easy and can include the ballast. This is a combination of oil, brake dust and general grime.

[newbryford]

For established track with timber sleepers an overall brown/grey for rail, chairs/clips and sleepers is easy and can include the ballast. This is a combination of oil, brake dust and general grime.

 

The rails/sleepers outside my house are two distinct shades of brown for the up and down lines.

There is about 5 years between the dates at which they were relaid. Both lines were relaid with steel sleepers, and the rails/sleepers are noticeably different between the two lines

 

Cheers,

Micvk

[Chris M]

Most of the rail I see is close to sleeper grime colour and a long way from rust colour. A small number of 1960s photos show rail as being quite a bright rust colour but of course that could just be the film.

 

In the diesel age pretty much all of the track, sleepers, ballast and rail is oily black in stations, especially where trains stop for a long period.

 

The best thing to do is take a look at your local railway line.

[Butler Henderson]

I used dark rust rather than light rust on Code 100 rail sides and the visual effect fooled enough people in thinking it was Code 75.

[Bernard Lamb]

I don't think that there is a "best" colour.

On a large layout such as Tony Wright's Little Bytham an overall mid grey looks effective.

However on a shunting plank a far greater distinction between the colour used for rails, chairs and sleepers can be used and it can appear to look very natural.

Then of course the lighting used and the height of the layout are going to have an influence on how it looks.

Then as others have mentioned there is period and type of stock to take into account.

Bernard 

[iclose]

Orange rust looks wrong. I use sleeper grime, I have tired other browns, various earth coloures, but sleeper grime looks best to me.

[HeatonLodge40]

This is sleeper grime and dark rust mixed about 50/50 on 7mm scale Heaton Lodge.

[HeatonLodge40]

Would help if I added the pic.

[Rich Papper]

I use Humbrol 29. Available in pot or aerosol. For areas that are more likely to have locos etc standing I add a little black.

 

Rich

[Junctionmad]

thanks , especially for the pics . thats looks very effective , could you suggest a mix of common acrylics to match sleeper grime and  dark rust !

 

thanks again 

Edited April 23, 2018 by Junctionmad

[Phil Bullock]

Used sleeper grime on Abbotswood - see videos from link in signature

 

Might be a bit more subtle on Mk2 layout.....

 

 

Phil

 

 

[Jeff Smith]

What brands of acrylics do you generally use? There are plenty of earthy colours in the Games Workshop range and the Testors Acryl military range.