need some hints for a quick weathering of track and ballast color

[streettrains]

Don't want to go too overboard with my weathering of my track, but what would be a quick and easy way without an airbrush...

 

also, what color ballast would be good for the Northeast area....

 

thanks

Mike

[dehusman]

Wash the track and ballast with a thin, very thin coat of basic soil color (makes the track look dusty) or a wash of very thin black.  Put some alcohol or dish detergent in the mix to make it "wetter".

Dribble thinned very dark brown or black paint just inside the rails (gear box grease).  Around grade crossing put a heavier wash coating of dirt colored paint right along the rails (mud pumping around the crossing).  On grades dust a very light coat of tan chalk right along the rails (sand).

Dave H.

[loathar]

Earth color pastel chalks from a craft store work well. Grind them up and apply with a paint brush. I'm modeling that basic area. (well...trying to) I'm using Woodland Scenics fine grey blend with some plain fine grey added. About 50/50 mix.

This is what mine is turning out like.

[ndbprr]

You also need a grease stripe to one side inside the rails to replicate the oil flung off the traction motor pinion gear and the axle drive gear.

[streettrains]

just what do you mean by grind the chalk up?

[UP2CSX]

Get a small bowl and a dull xacto knife blade. Scrape as much as you need into the bowl. It scrapes off easily. This is also the time to combine colors if you want a different mix from various color chalks. You don't literally have to grind it, just use the knife blade to scape off what you need.

[loathar]

http://www.dickblick.com/zz200/16/

These are the kind of pastel chalks I'm talking about. They have earthtone sets and greytone sets. They're good for weathering rolling stock and buildings too. Shave them with an Exacto like UP2CSX said.