RMweb Gold JohnR Posted March 22, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 22, 2021 I seem to recall reading someone who used Halford Red Primer to spray their track, as a basis for "track grime" colour - but want confirmation in case I just imagined it! A picture of the finished product if anyone else has tried this would be good too! I ask because I have a can of it handy, so it would save me having to get another can of a different colour (although other suggestions are welcome for future reference) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yardman Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 Truth is there is no such thing as "track colour". Track varies in colour from a light beige to almost black depending on its use, traffic, oil, grease, mud, brake dust, etc. In model form it should never be a uniform or one colour. Look at photos and decide on the best colour for the type of trackage you are trying to portray. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted March 22, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 22, 2021 I take all that on board, but I am just looking for a reasonable approximation - and happen to have a can of Halfords red primer handy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gilbert Posted March 22, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 22, 2021 I'm pretty sure when I've seen it used it is usually with other colours - probably a bit stark on its own http://nevardmedia.blogspot.com/2011/03/earth-and-sky.html 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted March 22, 2021 Share Posted March 22, 2021 (edited) I’ve used it for other jobs, and my view is that it bears no resemblance to any track I’ve ever seen - far too red and saturated. When I painted track, I used dark earth as a base colour, then a brown colour on the rails, but, as has been said above it’s not a simple topic if you want to get deeply into it. Edited March 22, 2021 by Nearholmer 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gilbert Posted March 23, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2021 (edited) In terms of "other suggestions" for track I am yet to try the camouflage colours now being sold by Halfords although I have used them for other things. I think the dark brown and khaki may have a role. https://www.halfords.com/search?q=camouflage I currently use Precision weathered sleepers as my base colour but I've also used Humbrol #29 "Dark Brown" in a can - I think it used to be called Dark Earth. Edited March 23, 2021 by Gilbert 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon A Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 Why not try it on a spare piece of track fixed to a bit of board? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Gilbert Posted March 23, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2021 18 minutes ago, Gordon A said: Why not try it on a spare piece of track fixed to a bit of board? Good call - I do so and can then experiment with ballast etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted March 23, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2021 I used Tamiya TS-1 red/brown 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted March 23, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 23, 2021 1 hour ago, Gordon A said: Why not try it on a spare piece of track fixed to a bit of board? I might well do that, but thought it would be useful to see if it had been done before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Alister_G Posted March 24, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 24, 2021 I have used Tamiya Red as it was all I had to hand at the time: I then masked off the rail and went over it with Humbrol Dark Earth aerosol: and finally hand-painted the rail with Humbrol 113 Rust Al. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold JohnR Posted March 25, 2021 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted March 25, 2021 I used the Red Primer, with a top coat of dark earth brown. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGQca5lCbdA Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveyDee68 Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 I might have remembered this incorrectly, but in a magazine article (Chris Nervard?) red and grey rattle can primers are misted onto the track/sleepers, followed with a camouflage brown (misted from the sides towards the rail but slightly heavier from above for the sleepers). The camouflage paint does seem to vary in colour a bit as it goes on. My own experience so far is that I needed to mist grey primer over the red primer to tone it down as otherwise it is really red, but by using the red you get a rust tinge when overlaid with the camouflage paint. I'm certain the original author said something about wanting a good overall representation without spending too much time and effort, but then applying additional weathering in places as required (weathering powders?) I should say that I protected point blades with masking tape and scraped the dry paint off the top rail surface with a wooden coffee stirrer cut into a chisel shaped end - a quick treatment with Track Magic (other solvents are available) and I my trains were good to go! I put photos of my efforts to date on my Woodhey Quay thread (although that track/layout is now Castlebrook Sidings) - links in my signature below. I would recommend experimenting! Steve S 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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