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Best color for painting modern rail

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  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 49 posts
Best color for painting modern rail
Posted by Nevin Wilson on Sunday, August 23, 2020 6:11 AM

I've been using Microlux Rail Brown to paint my rails but it doesn't quite look right to me.  A bit light and a bit too tan.  Other colors like Woodland Scenics either are too red and rusty or look unweathered.  I miss the old Floquil rail brown.  What color is everyone using these days to paint their rails?  Thanks.    

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Posted by carl425 on Sunday, August 23, 2020 9:56 AM

I like Krylon Camouflage Brown.

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Posted by Medina1128 on Sunday, August 23, 2020 9:58 AM

I use Krylon camouflage tan (I find the camo brown is too dark for my taste) to paint my track before installing it. I use a small wire brush that I bought from MicroMark to clean the rail for soldering wire jumpers.

Scratch brush



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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, August 23, 2020 10:19 AM

I decided on a German Camoflage Brown from Model Master that looked great to me, but now it is out of production.

Sigh

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by rrebell on Sunday, August 23, 2020 10:24 AM

I usev Model Masters light earth.

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Posted by hardcoalcase on Sunday, August 23, 2020 2:27 PM

I use Anita's All Purpose Acrylic Craft Paint - #11014 Earth Brown (a Rust-Oleum product) for the rails and ties; thinned 50-50 for airbrushing.  Once the ballasting is done, I brush paint it all with an alcohol and black shoe dye solution.

Jim

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    July 2006
  • From: Huntsville, AR
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Posted by oldline1 on Sunday, August 23, 2020 4:37 PM

To paint "modern rail" I would say graffiti to match the equipment! lol

Krylon camo brown is a good bet.

oldline1

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Posted by doctorwayne on Sunday, August 23, 2020 9:15 PM

Usually, the colour of the rail is determined by both the environment in which it's located, and by what's running on it.  (I'm assuming that by "modern rail", you're referring to continuous-welded rail, with very few or no rail joiners.)

I have brown rail (in various shades, as stick-rail was often replaced on an as-needed basis), rust coloured rail, grey rail, and black rail, too.  I mix whatever colour I feel to be appropriate for the location, and always apply it with a brush.

Wayne

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    January 2002
  • From: Loudonville, NY
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Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Thursday, August 27, 2020 1:41 PM

I use a basecoat of Rustoleum "Camoflauge" but it looks too dark brown for older track. For that, I paint over it with Model Master "leather." I tried Model Master "rust" but it was too red... a pet peeve of mine.

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, August 27, 2020 1:46 PM

I like the Rustoleum Camo brown as a base color.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by Doughless on Friday, August 28, 2020 7:12 AM

I put dabs of cheap acrylic paint in black, brown, and gray onto a styrene pallet and take a bit from each dab to mix until the color looks right.  If the next mixture is a little off that's okay. 

Since I apply the paint with a chisel brush it all tends to get further blended when applied to the rail.

It results in a custom color that looks right.

- Douglas

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