Paint track before install?

[rexhea]

Can you paint the ties and rail with acrylic paints before you install them or would the paint crack with flexing during installation?

I know you would have to be careful about keeping it clean for rail joiners, soldering, and still have to touch up joints, but it seems like it would be great to paint several sections at once and have them ready for installation.

REX

[Javern]

paint before, can touch up after installation if needed

[Anonymous]

You should definitely paint it once it's installed. If you paint it and then try to flex it, the paint bonds the ties and the rails. If you do get it to flex you will then have to go back and pend about as much time as it would take you to paint all of the track just retouching the masks of the spikes.
Reed

[CNJ831]

bnnnboy is correct. If you paint before installing the track, the flexing on any curved sections will expose all the unpainted areas originally hinden by the "spikes" when the track was straight. It can also matter whether you are applying the paint with a regular bush or an airbrush. If the paint is applied a little too heavily using the former method it could make flexing the track to the proper curvature more difficult because the shifting "slipping rail" will drag over the paint or, worse yet, be frozen in place.

Unless the trackage is going to be in a difficult to access spot for painting after it has been laid, save your painting until just before ballasting.

CNJ831

[snowey]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rexhea

Can you paint the ties and rail with acrylic paints before you install them or would the paint crack with flexing during installation?

I know you would have to be careful about keeping it clean for rail joiners, soldering, and still have to touch up joints, but it seems like it would be great to paint several sections at once and have them ready for installation.

REX

as you can see, there's more than one answer to this, just like with some other aspects of layout building.
My answer is, it's up to you, but with flex-track it's easier to paint it after it's installed, but with sectional track, before or after is fine.

[rexhea]

[bow]

Wow! I am sure glad I asked. I am using flex track and didn't think about the rails sticking to the ties or when the rail shifted leaving bare spots. I have some tight places to get into and thought I could keep from painting everything near the track by doing this. I'll just have to take it sloooow and eeeeasy.[(-D]

Now I know why I have never seen it suggested.

Thanks all
REX

[Jetrock]

All the more reason to use an airbrush--you can get much tighter control over where the paint goes than with a spray can or large brush. I'd still recommend covering any particularly prized structures/scenery near the track, but airbrushing can get you very well-controlled results.

[dknelson]

The problem is that painting when the track is in place does unquestionably have the best results BUT it means using the airbruch (or spray cans) in a situation where you cannot possibly have the optimum venting. There are ways to take precautions but it is not as safe as painting in a paint booth. My basement does not lend itself to the safety tips for ventilation using recommended so I paint my flex track outside on the driveway.
It is true -- as soon as you flex the track you see little tiny shiny spots that were covered up before. One solution might be to paint twice: paint, let dry, flex, paint again.
One thing is for sure -- painted track even with the tiny shiny spots loosk so much better than unpainted rail.
Dave Nelson

[jfugate]

By the way, if you paint the track with ModelFlex paint after its down (my recommendation), it's non-toxic, mimimal fumes, and because the stuff dries so fast, any overspray tends to just fall to the ground as inert "colored dust".

I tend to hand bru***he railsides after the track is in place and ballasted so I don't have the spray issue, but if you do need to spray indoors with minimal ventilation, waterbased ModelFlex is a good choice, IMO.

[Anonymous]

Before installation, I will nip tie ends with a hobby knife, nibbler or wire cutters. The amount of trimming depends on where the track will be laid. Not much on mainlines; a little more on sidings. Do not go overboard - a little of this goes a long way.

Then, I paint the ties using grey primer spray cans (outdoors!) and touch up individual ties with miscellaneous wood stain that I have in the shop. This is more of a light overspray rather than fully painting them. Once again, a little goes a long way. You just want to break up the uniform black/brown of the plastic ties.

Once installed, I hand bru***he rail sides with a tuscan red/rust color. One advantage of doing this after installation is that you only have to paint the rail sides which can be seen ; ) Never one to do more work than necessary, plus my theater background has taught me that what the viewer cannot see isn't there. (In a similar vein, don't paint track in tunnels -- will only cause electrical problems later where you can't easily get to repair)

In both cases, when painting ties or rails, I little oil or Vaseline on top of the rails makes it easier to clean them later. You don't want to have electrical problems later.

Hope this helps

[rexhea]

DJLutz,
Like your point of , "...what the viewer cannot see isn't there." That thought would certainly help when you try to get into areas that you have a chance to destroy more than you would create.

Never thought about a film of oil or Vaseline on top of rails. That would make it a lot easier to clean.

Everyone has some good methods. Keep them rolling in. I can see situations where a little of this and of that would solve many track painting difficulties. I have been using PolyScale paints that seem to work OK other than clogging my air bru***ip. I haven't tried ModelFlex. The air brush is a new tool for me and I am still getting use to it. Its a single action Badger. Would I be better off with a double action??(I don't know the difference.)
Thanks

[fwheadon]

Paint fafter installation for the previously mentioned reasons. Paint only the side that is seen from your aisle space - less work means more time to run trains. Don't forget to paint the guard rails in tunnels and across bridges as they do rust inlcuding the head of the rial as it is not used as a running surface. As these rials do not get the same treatment from passing trains, they are most often a bit darker in colour.

[Anonymous]

i hand lay... and paint the track ties and cork as one ... so its all weatherd together like it was put down together years ago.. greg c.e.o....of r a d railroad

[Wdlgln005]

Perhaps you can assemble the track into sub-assemblies and then paint them. Each section would be cut or lengthened to fit, just like putting together a model kit. A thin film of Vaseline or something to help clean up overspray. Touch ups could be done after some scenery is done. I can't see why the track and ties can't be of some consistent color, spraying a large amount at once. Try it and let us know how it turns out!

[Anonymous]

I always paint after laying track BUT b4 putting any scenery or structures down. Despite what has been stated I try to paint the "Back" of the track too as I often put my camera in a position where I cannot normally see for those great closeups. I always paint all the track with a "grey" and then go back and paint the rail only with a very muted rusty colour. I also repaint randomm ties with different greys/browns for that random look.

[Anonymous]

I always paint after the track is in it's final configuration but when it is still in the bare plywood stage. Usually the first color is a medium gray, then rail brown, then I do the side of the rails with a brush for a rust color - but not to much. I later add oil spills and other imperfections to the ties with a brush.

Remember the airbrush is your friend

[dknelson]

Micro Engineering makes an excellent pre weathered flex track by the way. It is a little pricey but looks very nice. It is harder to curve than Atlas however.
Dave Nelson