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
I like the Rustoleum Camo brown as a base color.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
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/
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
To paint "modern rail" I would say graffiti to match the equipment! lol
Krylon camo brown is a good bet.
oldline1
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
I usev Model Masters light earth.
I decided on a German Camoflage Brown from Model Master that looked great to me, but now it is out of production.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
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
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I like Krylon Camouflage Brown.
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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.