I need you guys to help jog my memory. Sometime over the past few months I recall seeing an advertisement for a track weathering pen that was either a marker or a paint pen but I cant remember the manufacturer. Its something I think Id like to try as Ive just finished laying 350 feet of track. Does this product sound familiar to anyone and has anyone on here tried it? Thanks, Mark.
http://mwcohio.blogspot.com
Gidday, Can't help with the ad, but if you type "Track weathering pen" in "The Search Our Community", about half way down the ads and information on the right, in "Layouts and layout building" you will find a post "Weathering Track" dated 4-12-2011. In it the guys refer to various methods and also several brands of pens. Hope this is of use?
Cheers, The Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
The track paint markers are by Floquil. I'm very happy with them, it has made my track painting almost fun and not the chore it was when trying to do it with jars of paint and a brush.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
With that much track, I suggest painting it with spray can paint. Just mask off the area with newspapers. Get Floquil Rail Brown and Grimy Black. Spray the brown first, then come in lightly with the black.
Then while still wet, wipe the top of the rails down with paint thinner.
You can paint large sections of track in no time, and it looks great.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
I tend to hand paint before the track is placed down on the layout. As I have a long, 2-foot wide, shelf type layout that is totally against a wall, I tend to paint only the visible half of the inside and outside rail. Why paint what no one will ever see? For larger table layouts that folks can walk around on, that's another matter. I just use floquil "rust".
I might try a test section of the rust painted track and apply a slap dash wash application of ultra water thinned grimy black.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
I'll second the rattle can method. I have used the pens just last week and found that they were time consuming to use, required multiple passes to cover effectively and that I didn't like the colors when they dried. I ended up going back over the section with my trusty rattle cans and was happier with the end result.. IMHO, The pens are good for touch up but I would not recommend them for large sections of track.
Of course your mileage may vary,
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Floquil's pens are fine for touching up rails or a few individual ties after the track receives a base coat of paint. They work faster than a brush. Since they do not provide especially good coverage. I find them to be poor choice for a stand-alone paint application. A lot of people using them without a base coat end up with translucent, unrealistic rails.
Rob Spangler
I do two coats, first of rust then the grimy black. ANd I found that if I make two passes, one in each direction, it fills in any skips around the spike detail.
Thank You Guys. I apreciate the different points of view and the advice. After reading your replys Ive decided to go with spraying the rails and having a pen for touchups. Heading to the Floquil site to do some shopping! Mark.