Focalplane Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 I need to start painting the several meters of copper clad track made during the past two months. Now re-united with all my supplies, I find I have a bottle of Polly Scale Railroad Tie Brown which would seem to be a good match for creosoted railway sleepers. The problem is, once I start I need to know if I can buy more of the same product. I think I bought this 1 fl. oz. bottle in Calgary and now I am retired I won't be going back there. I am also aware that not all railway sleepers are necessarily the same color. For example, sleepers where locomotives rest are likely to be stained with oil, soot and ash, while individual sleepers may be been replaced, having rotted. These subtle details can be addressed later, prior to ballasting. So, my question is - what recommendations are there for track paint, and preferably, is it likely to be available in France? My not so local hobby shop, in Bessan (FB Systems), does not list paint on their website but if I know what to ask for it may save me a fruitless journey. I have an airbrush, by the way, if that helps. And I will be priming the track with Halford's grey etch primer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 I have just used car primer from a spray can then hand painted enamel, from now on I would use my airbrush to paint it (after priming) I dont know if etched primer is better though Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I painted my copperclad track with matt black rattle can - probably Halfords, but I'm sure the French equivalent of B&Q does something similar. After that, I airbrushed the rails with acrylic iron oxide artist's paint. Probably better to use Vallejo or Games workshop acrylics if you can find them. I looked at the FB website - I couldn't see paint either - but they must stock it! HTH S Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted April 16, 2015 Author Share Posted April 16, 2015 I have a can of Halfords grey etch primer, so that is step one. As to step two, I may just visit FB (remembering they close for a good long French lunch!). Vallejo maybe the way to go. Also, FB used to advertise a rail painting gizmo that gives a good impression of rust on the outer use of the rail. But I would still like some more of that Polly Scale RaIlroad Tie Brown! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
decauville1126 Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 I used Halfords red oxide primer followed by a wash of brownie/black/grey cheap artstore acrylics. The Acrylic dries really tough though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted April 16, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 16, 2015 These may be useful: http://www.southernpacificmodelerssociety.org/say-goodbye-to-floquil-and-pollyscale-paints-t3555-10.html http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/14152 http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/219952.aspx HTH polybear Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 These may be useful: http://www.southernpacificmodelerssociety.org/say-goodbye-to-floquil-and-pollyscale-paints-t3555-10.html http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/14152 http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/219952.aspx HTH polybear Really useful links, thank you! Some of the options are a bit bizarre, though, like Humbrol gloss enamel for sleepers! The SPMS banner photo (first link) had me drooling! Cab In Front, Daylight, Black Widow, who could ask for anything more! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted April 17, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2015 Had another thought - if you have a sample of what you need then a good specialist car paint factors will have equipment that can electronically scan the colour, mix a match and either supply it in a tin for spraying, or put it in aerosols ready to use. Make sure they know that you want matt finish though.... HTH polybear p.s. "Good" doesn't mean Halfords , though I understand they can mix paint too (but not sure if they can scan paint. Most decorating places, including B&Q etc. can also scan and mix paint, but maybe only in emulsion - which may not be very long-lasting on copper-clad sleepers (probably pretty good on ply though, if thinned down) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Thanks, polybear, good thoughts indeed. I am currently using B&Q Valspar (actually they don't make it but import it from the US) for home decorating and it is the best paint I have used in a long time. The satin paint finish for Wood and Metal could be the answer (except I am in France!) as it is hard wearing for an acrylic based paint. And, as you say, they can scan and color match. I have spoken to Valspar's UK office about spraying their paints and they claim it will work well enough to re-do smooth surfaced kitchen cabinets, etc. This is obviously on 1:1 scale and I wasn't thinking of using an airbrush at the time. Model paint formulations are much finer grained, though for track this wouldn't be as much of a problem as for, say, a locomotive. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sp1 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I believe Gordon S on 'Eastwood Town' uses emulsion - I think he had a sample of the relevant Humbrol colour scanned and the paint mixed from this, and his track looks great! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium polybear Posted April 17, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 17, 2015 I sprayed a primed MDF Radiator Cabinet (before it was assembled together) using Crown Satin woodwork paint recently (thinned using white spirit), using a cheapo ten quid Badger airbrush. Needs several coats but works a treat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidH Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Off the top of my head, I recall that Gordon first sprays the track with automotive red oxide, then uses emulsion. If it wasn't Gordon, it was someone, and I used it successfully on a test diorama a couple of years ago Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 After some experimentation and the good advice in the posts above, this is what I have decided. Spray the Halford's Grey Etch Primer on the "bare" track after pre-soldering the connecting wires (which will pass through re-drilled holes in the styrene base) and cleaning up the track piece with Cif. Then glue the piece of track down using rubber cement (Copydex which I finally found in a Homebase in Evesham). Once dry, customize sleepers according to location using weathering liquids (I have some by Modelmates which I believe I bought in Canada) and/or watered down acrylic/emulsion paints. In this way individual sleepers can be slightly different from their neighbors and where the locomotives stand for periods of time the sleepers can be oily/sooty black. This technique seems to be appropriate to a small branch line terminus (as at Shipston-on-Stour) but would be too time consuming for a large main line layout (such as Tony Wright's Little Bytham which has a more uniform appearance as befits a main line prototype.) Once ballast is added the entire track should take on a somewhat decayed look which is what I am looking for. All the available photos suggest that this is how it was. And here is a modern steam prototype at Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyID Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Probably of more use to those on the left side of the Atlantic, although there may be an equivalent product available in Europe. This is Rust-Oleum Camouflage spray paint on copper-clad. It looks black in the photo, but it's actually dark brown. It's also completely matte, fast drying, and they claim it also adheres well to plastic. I tried it on some SMP and it takes the reflection off the plastic immediately. Could no doubt use some weathering effects, but I think it's an effective base coat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightbe Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 That's quite funny! I settled on exactly the same paint (disclaimer: also on the left side of the Atlantic). It might be a bit dark as-is but better than the other options I could find. Should be excellent when weathered with powders. I made the mistake the first time of not priming the turnout first and the finish was not so even (shinier where the solder was), but with priming I quite liked it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyID Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 That's quite funny! I settled on exactly the same paint (disclaimer: also on the left side of the Atlantic). It might be a bit dark as-is but better than the other options I could find. Should be excellent when weathered with powders. I made the mistake the first time of not priming the turnout first and the finish was not so even (shinier where the solder was), but with priming I quite liked it. Did you happen to find it in a big store with a W on it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightbe Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Aye, that's the one.. It was the LAST place I ever thought I'd find anything useful.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon s Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Hi guys, thanks for the mention…:-) Yes, I use Simoniz Red Oxide primer and a matt emulsion that was mixed up by my local paint shop to match Humbrol 'Chocolate'. The red oxide is a good base cover as any parts of the rail that the brown doesn't cover shows through as a rust colour, rather than the grey Vallejo primer. I'm a bit lazy, so both the rail and sleepers are the same colour base coat. When I get time I would give a quick pass with an airbrush with a 'dirty' mix down the centre between the two rails. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayfield Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 I chose bog standard red oxide primer, but an etched primer may have been better. The 2 attached photos are for a small demonstration piece for differing turnout operating mechanisms They are also a good test piece for painting. After hand painting a turnout and not being entirely happy with it, for these out came the airbrush. I used some Humbrol sleeper grime (no 173) as a base colour, next to the sleeper grime I added some rust colour (no 113) and sprayed the rails, the over spray to the sleepers added to the effect and is far more pleasing to the eye than the hand painted turnout. Rail tops will add to the effect once cleaned of paint pity the subtle change in colour is not very evident in the photo, but good under artificial light A close up photo but any more weathering will be tried once I have a turnout ballasted as I will re-spray the hand painted turnout. The Humbrol rust is a bit pinkish/red, whilst that may be right for a newly rusting object rails have the same grime over both sleepers and metal work. An artist would do much better, but I think I will learn about colour effects as I go and do a few more Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyID Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 This is a piece of SMP (phosphor-bronze rail). First, I sprayed it horizontally from both sides with red primer, then vertically onto the sleepers with the camouflage paint. It's the same piece of track in both photos (!) in natural evening light but in slightly different locations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Focalplane Posted May 3, 2015 Author Share Posted May 3, 2015 Back to matching Railroad Tie Brown, I just visited Dulux Valentine's web site (in French as that is where I will be buying the paint). The color options are shown here: The best match is Grain de Café, which of course immediately suggests that coffee could itself be a good weathering match for creosoted sleepers. I have already bought two Dulux Valentine samplers, a relatively inexpensive way to buy small quantities of paint, for painting the soil below whatever other scenic material is then to be added. Trouble is, I have forgotten where I put them. Next up, rusty rails. It may be no surprise that there isn't a good color match available for rust! But a mix of two colors might be a reasonable solution - perhaps an orange plus a brown? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simond Posted May 3, 2015 Share Posted May 3, 2015 Paul I think "darker". Lots darker! Google "creosote treated timber", and the picture at the top of http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creosoteis quite astonishing. Indeed, my efforts will get darker as a result of your question, so thanks! There was a suggestion to use Indian ink to stain wooden timbers & sleepers, but whilst this might be good for newly-treated timbers, I think we're looking for a weathered look. . (From http://www.kilgraney.com/railway%20sleeper%20treatments.htm) It's more complex! I'm thinking of a dusty grey-brown over a dark black-brown base... Regarding rusty rails, I started with artists acrylic iron oxide from Winsor & Newton. It's called "Red Iron Oxide" otherwise "Oxyde de Fer Rouge", which may prove helpful in France! There are some nice shades here: http://www.hindcolor.com/ironoxide.html HTH Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jukebox Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 Back to matching Railroad Tie Brown, I just visited Dulux Valentine's web site (in French as that is where I will be buying the paint). The color options are shown here: RailroadTieColorMatch.jpg The best match is Grain de Café, which of course immediately suggests that coffee could itself be a good weathering match for creosoted sleepers. I have already bought two Dulux Valentine samplers, a relatively inexpensive way to buy small quantities of paint, for painting the soil below whatever other scenic material is then to be added. Trouble is, I have forgotten where I put them. Next up, rusty rails. It may be no surprise that there isn't a good color match available for rust! But a mix of two colors might be a reasonable solution - perhaps an orange plus a brown? After an 18 month hiatus on my layout, I have that problem with so many items! I go to open a box, and it's like Christmas all over again:"Oh, I forgot I had that..." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyID Posted May 4, 2015 Share Posted May 4, 2015 More sleeper hues. Wide variations are possible. I'm sorry, but somebody seems to have taken a chainsaw to these ones. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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