Laying track is the part I most hate. I am 74 and have always done things on the cheap. Just buying because they not only are superelevated, they also have easement track. I am modeling 1940-1950. Concrete just wouldnt work.
SeeYou190The most difficult part will be making sure your ties do not have a white ghost line around where they meet the ballast.
I don't think that will be that big a deal. The concrete ties are more yellow-gray than white, and only stick up about 1/32" above the ballast. (A light wash of alcohol and black or brown paint once the ties are painted would probably do a lot to enhance the way the track looks.)
http://www.katousa.com/images/unitrack/2-141.jpg
SeeYou190The super-elevated track sections are not available with wooden ties (Are you listening Kato... we need these).
That's for sure, no idea why they chose to only offer these in concrete ties, when I would think wood ties sells a lot more - at least in the US?
OK, thanks, I didn't realize the track has the road bed and ballast all together.
Painting just the tops, I guess is the only option.
You can still super elevate plain track with shims. I did it on both end loops of my layout.
Mike.
My You Tube
mbinsewiIt shouldn't be bad, get like a 1/2" wide brush and have at it. Don't have to do one tie at a time.
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That won't work well on Kato Unitrack. The nicely molded in ballast is even or above the ties.
The most difficult part will be making sure your ties do not have a white ghost line around where they meet the ballast.
The super-elevated track sections are not available with wooden ties (Are you listening Kato... we need these).
-Kevin
Living the dream.
mbinsewiWhy did you buy the concrete tie track anyway? Only thing availiable or what? or the only track with super elevation?
It's the only Kato curved track that's super-elevated.
Well Unitrack has fairly low profile ties and of course has the attached roadbed / ballast, so ya, you do pretty much have to do one tie at a time.
But it's not real hard to do that. If you want to just paint the ties black to match the other track, I'd use Acrylicos Vallejo flat black. What I do with the regular track is leave about 1/2 of the ties black, and paint the other 1/2 brown, tan, or dark gray. Use a flat brush, 1/8" or so wide. I also color the sides of the rails with Neo-lube from MicroMark, which dries to a flat dark gray color, leaving the tops of the rails clean (a BrightBoy can make sure there's no paint on there.)
Just open say a four-pack of tracks and do them on the workbench. If you're just opting to paint the gray ties flat black it won't take all that long. You could also leave a few gray and paint a few of the ties on each section of black-tie track primer gray or some other light gray to match.
p.s. since the ties only stick out a tiny bit above the ballast, don't worry about painting anything other than the tops of the ties.
It shouldn't be bad, get like a 1/2" wide brush and have at it. Don't have to do one tie at a time.
Why did you buy the concrete tie track anyway? Only thing availiable or what? or the only track with super elevation?
You can do that with regular track by using shims.
Moses45I am getting Kato super elevated curves. I am modeling 1940 to 1950 and need to make it look like wood ties. Any ideas?
Painting the Kato Unitrack to match the wood track sections will be very tedious.
My only thought is to find a suitable colour in the Vallejo Model Color line and use a good quality brush.
I hope you have good stamina.
Moses45 I am getting Kato super elevated curves. I am modeling 1940 to 1950 and need to make it look like wood ties. Any ideas?
I am getting Kato super elevated curves. I am modeling 1940 to 1950 and need to make it look like wood ties. Any ideas?
Brown camo paint
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley