Painting sides of Rails.

[dave260457]

I have just watched one of Charlie Bishop's videos where he used a "painting wheel" device to paint the sides of the Rails on his layout. As he didn't elaborate too much on this gizmo, does anyone have any information on such a device and, if so, are they available nowadays to purchase?

Regards

David

[JZ]

I have one of these.

https://www.osbornsmodels.com/rusty-rails-painter-724-c.asp

Available from other sources.

 

Woodland Scenics also do something, but it's like a felt tip and non-refillable.

[dave260457]

Thanks for the link Jules, I have contacted Osbornsmodels to check when they will receive some new stock.

 

Regards

David

[dave260457]

Oh Dear

I have had a reply from Osborns models and the plain facts are as follows :-  1. They have been waiting for two years for new stocks of the Painting Wheel units to come-in and 2. Nobody else makes anything like it.

Looks like it will be paintbrush time with yards of O gauge track to paint.

Just thought I would let you all know the situation on this particular item.

Regards

David

 

[John Tomlinson]

13 hours ago, dave260457 said:

Oh Dear

I have had a reply from Osborns models and the plain facts are as follows :-  1. They have been waiting for two years for new stocks of the Painting Wheel units to come-in and 2. Nobody else makes anything like it.

Looks like it will be paintbrush time with yards of O gauge track to paint.

Just thought I would let you all know the situation on this particular item.

Regards

David

 

If you have an airbrush you could spray the sides of the rails. This needs to be done after tracklaying but before ballasting.

 

Don't use a primer, but just the actual grot colour paint - I've used various brands of enamel over the years. You can then wipe the top of the rail with a rag dampened in thinner to get it clean.

 

As you are unlikely to touch the sides of the rails with any degree of aggression thereafter the paint will stick and stay. If you need to solder a wire to the side of the rail just clean off the small section that is relevant, for example with a fibre glass brush, and retouch by hand after completion.

 

John.

[JZ]

13 hours ago, dave260457 said:

Oh Dear

I have had a reply from Osborns models and the plain facts are as follows :-  1. They have been waiting for two years for new stocks of the Painting Wheel units to come-in and 2. Nobody else makes anything like it.

Looks like it will be paintbrush time with yards of O gauge track to paint.

Just thought I would let you all know the situation on this particular item.

Regards

David

 

Looks like everyone else is in the same boat. Just checked Walthers and they are also waiting for stock. But at least they still have it listed.

 

You could email them directly joescustommodeltrains@gmail.com The website has been updated to mention Covid, but has no product lists.  Several forums have been asking since 2013.

 

Alternatively you could ask in the wants section if someone has one they no longer require.

Edited July 11, 2021 by JZ

[darrel]

I used a railmatch aerosol canister track dirt colour to paint the rails, remember to clean the rail head. However I hand painted the points. Last time I spray painted points it didn't go to well.

[Tim V]

I sprayed the sides after ballasting. Masked using ordinary masking tape. The overspray onto the ballast (under the rail) mimics the rust/dirt that falls onto the ballast.

[eastglosmog]

I had one of those Woodland Scenic's pens.  I would not recommend it - fiber tip wore out long before it was empty and the paint cover was far too thin, had to be done over and over.  Ended up using a tin of Humbrol rust paint and a small paint brush.

[Mick Bonwick]

On 09/07/2021 at 07:39, JZ said:

I have one of these.

https://www.osbornsmodels.com/rusty-rails-painter-724-c.asp

Available from other sources.

 

Woodland Scenics also do something, but it's like a felt tip and non-refillable.

 

I have used one of these, too, but found it difficult to obtain more paint of the right content and consistency. The paint that is produced for the tool seems to contain latex in some form or other that makes it stick to the rail side while allowing it to run freely down the tube. Once my supply of paint ran out I found it hard to replicate these properties with other paints. What paint do others use with it?

[Phil Himsworth]

A thought regarding painting rails by spraying them; would a similar trick to static grass work to maximise paint on the rails? If you connected one side of a voltage source to the airbrush or rattle can and the other to the rails, would that get more paint on the rails, especially the sides, and less on the surrounding area?

 

Edited July 15, 2021 by Phil Himsworth

[cliff park]

They certainly use that trick to spray car panels and other metal parts. A place near us specialises in spray painting office furniture, frames for school desks etc, and I've seen that in action. Quite remarkable the way the paint is attracted to the metal. 

[Right Away]

Humbrol 29 acrylic, aerosol or pot for airbrush application.

Edited July 15, 2021 by Right Away

[justin1985]

Unless you're looking at concrete sleepered or very freshly laid track, there is seldom actually much difference in colour between the rail itself and the sleepers, when you actually look at photos of the prototype ...

 

I just give the whole track an airbrushing with a dark brown "track dirt" type colour, then ballast, then just brush some dark rust weathering powder along the sides of the rails, and especially the chairs, to give then a slightly lighter tone (and seal with matt varnish spray)

[Monkersson]

Halfords Camo Brown sprayed over the rails and sleepers is a great start for well weathered trackwork