I thought the subject was too important to be buried with the Oakville thread... I've been worrying about how I was going to weather my Atlas switches to match the ME Code 55 Weathered. I'm happy to report what I consider to be complete success. In this shot, the ladder on the left is untouched, and the right ladder has had Neolube 2 applied. You can see some small sections of the ME track between the switches. And this is one of those situations where it looks better to the eye than to the camera. The Neolube goes on easily and will come off the tops of the rails with emery paper or a Bright Boy - if you want to - it's conductive, so you could just let it wear off. But it just beats the heck out of paint! You can get it at Micro-Mark...a bit more expensive than paint but well worth it IMO! I decanted into a small paint bottle from the brush-cap bottle it comes in - brush is 'way too big for N and would likely lose more from evaporation than anything else - and use a small brush for applying. You don't have to be super neat because you can't see it on the ties if you slop a bit. Reports are that it goes a long way. I've done around 20 switches and it seems like I haven't made a dent.
Jim, As always your photos and progress reports are informative, enjoyable, and inspiring. What will you do about the Atlas ties - paint them by hand? Or did you paint them before the Neolube?
Bill, I plan to leave them as they are. The camera has done some strange things with these shots; the Atlas ties are close enough to the ME wood (to my sight anyway) that there wouldn't be a point to painting them. And that can be easily explained in the prototype world - frequently switches are built elsewhere and brought to where they'll be used, and therefore the ties might very well be a different shade of brown/black.
Tracy, the single picture showing the Neolube applied to the Atlas switches is embedded in the post, it should pop right up along with the text...it does for me...
It looks really good. One thing that would concern me though the potential loss of traction - I mean this stuff is a lubricant? I suppose the fact you're wiping it off the rail tops leaves the surfaces that need traction clean. By the way, I tried to import some to the UK and failed, as no one would ship it because of the Isopropanol content. I searched high and low in the UK and finally tracked a similar product down called Taab Colloidal Graphite Suspension. Email sales@taab.co.uk if you're interested. It seems to work great. I'm using it for MTL coupling pins and loco coupling rods. Cheers, Ted
Ted, I think just getting it off the rail tops should be enough. It doesn't tend to creep, it stays put. Glad you found a UK sub! It's GOOD stuff!
Jim: Can you elaborate a little - exactly what is this stuff, who makes it and where can we buy it, and am I correct in reading that you apply it with a small brush? Thanks, Tim
Ok what I want to know is how do people find out about these things? Neolube is a conductive lubricant, used extensively at nuclear power generating plants. I just would never thought about using it.:bulgy-eyes:
I use Neolube # 2 on steam locomotives to blacken siderods,valve gear and drivers. Been using it for years. You can also use Neolube to blacken MT trip oins instead of trying to paint them and then having the paint gum up the uncoupling mechanism of the coupler.
I'd never heard of Neolube either, until some folks here on the Forum kept pointing it out.... got some of it, it is great stuff. Pricy, but for what it does (especially blackening the side rods on a N scale steam loco), it's well worth it.
I started using NeoLube a few years ago on coupler trip pins, outer rim of bright metal wheels, and steamer rods, etc. We also have been using it at the club on our handlaid turnouts where we don't want paint to gum up the works. I apply it with a small MicroBrush and am careful not to bridge the gaps on our PC ties.
Tim, I believe what it is was covered above, and you can get it at Micro-Mark (dunno if they ship north though...). I use a flat end brush, maybe 3/0...fits the rail nicely and holds a goodly amount - I can make a switch-long swipe with good coverage. It's also possible to do multiple coats and get things still darker...
Deppen, the above is from Ted in the UK. Perhaps the EU's regulations are a bit more relaxed...or his description will help you find some in your country...
Don't even think of using the horrible brush that comes in the bottle. What a mess ! Careful of what you do on tracks, especially if you have rubber traction tires. It will not help the traction.
Another think about this stuff is it is electrically conductive. Becareful about getting this stuff from rail to rail as it could short out.
