A few months back, someone posted a link to a tool that was used to paint the side of HO rail - seemed pretty slick. I have 'googled' the net and have done a search on the forum to no avail. Anyone still have that link? The tool had a pair of wipers that were loaded with paint, and it very nicely did the sides of the rail without getting the ties painted as well. Jim Bernier
Jim: The best rail painting tool happens to be a 18/0 sable brush. It does a beautiful job. Stay cool and run steam.....
Joe's rail painting tool uses a small roller that paints one side of the rail at a time. You have little control over the amount of paint that hits the roller from the paint reservoir. I tried it out for N scale track with mixed results. Stay cool and run steam.....
Well, I am going to use it on Atlas code 100 trackage(HO) It appears that it should work fine with the larger rail. I just sent off the money for the unit. If it works good on the code 100 rail, I am going to try it on the code 83 when I start laying the branch line. I hand painted most of the rail in one town the other night - took forever. I hope this tool will speed up the process. Jim Bernier
I plan on airbrushing the tracks on my line. I basically will lay the track, adjust it to where I want it, then spray the sides of the rails a rusted brown, and the tops of the ties a dark brown color. Then ballast.
Jim, I have used the tool on Atlas code 83 and it works great, once you have a little practice. I like it better than my airbrush, very little paint on top of rails also you can paint the spikes and plates at the same time!!
I thought about painting the spikes separately. I just used a gloved hand and a rag moistened with lacquer thinner to clean the railheads, after painting. It takes off dried paint off as well. I use it religiously to clean my paint brushes, airbrush, shoot--anything that has to be cleaned of paint or glues.
In as much as I hand lay my rail, I turn my rails upside down, held in place with pins at the ends and air brush them. Little, if any paint gets on the railhead this way.
