HI Folks: IM looking for suggestions of what colors to use for painting track for what some call 3 foot scale -- as in it looks good at 3 feet distance -- I want it to look "Good" but not take hours on each section of track. This railroad is designed for operation, and i want it to look decent but im not trying to win any awards for my artistry Any input or suggestions or links to sites or threads is really REALLY appreciated TIM San Luis and Rio Grande
Rail Brown is a pretty standard color, as well as Floquil Roof Brown. I'm assuming that you want the ties and rail to be the same color. Airbrushing before laying scenery is probably the most efficient method of just getting general coverage. You could also go for a more grey color. Generally that looks good for weathered wood. I haven't painted track in a long time, but I mixed grimy black and a bit of tamiya green to create that pressure treated/creosote look that some ties have. If you wanted to use a paint marker to come back and do the rails, you could do that too.
This is a diorama shot outdoors in direct sunlight. Code 83 rails hand painted with Tamiya 'Red Brown'.
Yeah, some people swear by rail brown, while others dislike the color. I have seen some people say the color just seems 'off'. It depends if you want the ties and rails to be the same color. The best way to check is to paint some sections and see what they look like under layout light. Make sure to test it with your ballast too. Sometimes those contrasting colors can really change how you see a shade. I tried some track in Rust color (model master) a while back and it looked horrible. You may be tempted to go for it just because the name Rust makes sense for metal, but it is way to red and just generally too bright a color. It is not 'weathered' enough.
Thank-you! Hard to beat Ma Nature as a backdrop, and cloning brushes for the steam and smoke effects. This is truly a golden age for the hobby. I appreciate your post.
