How To Paint And Weather Model Railroad Track - for beginners Part6

[@andrewbenjamin6059]

"Sleepers" are black (we called them railroad ties) because the wood was soaked in creosote, a preservative made from distilled coal tar. A majority of countries have banned the substance or severely restricted its use, so it's not surprising you didn't know why sleepers are typically black. The house I grew up in was only about 40 yards from a triple set of railroad tracks, so the sound and sight of freight trains passing by day and night was very familiar to me in the 1950s and 60s. So was the black stain I'd get on my bare feet from walking down the railroad tracks for a couple of miles to a little country store in the spring and summer. Nice work and good video. Thanks for sharing your hobby interest. It's inspiring to still see some younger people like yourself using their creativity to enjoy healthy pastimes like we did when I was growing up. I remember those days with great fondness. Enjoy them.

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Hi Andrew. That makes sense. Thanks for this really nice and kind comment! It really inspired me to keep going! Have a great day!

[@robkiger3434]

Yeah if you look at fresh ties next to the tracks 9/8 time out of 10 they are a dark black almost black. They're replacing the ties on the mainline near me and majority are black.

[@MarkUKInsects]

And in the days of stream, toilets, if they had them would empty onto the track, mix that s@%t with plenty of soot, and grease, that dark brown will soon be jet black

[@winnebagus4476]

This answer is accurate in northern American (New York) where I am. I grew up with a creosote railroad sleeper retaining wall at my house that my father built. The smell of the creosote is unique.

[@chadportenga7858]

Great video and technique. I'll have to try this on my layout (when I get that far). One point I'd mention is that if you are not making a diorama (no actual running of trains) or not using dead-rail, you will need to wipe the paint from the top of the rail BEFORE it dries completely. It's much easier to remove when it's still a bit wet. You can use scrap pieces of cork or a thin cloth wrapped around a block of wood to wipe it without scratching the tracks. (If it dries, you may need to scrape it with a knife or screwdriver, or use an abrasive pad (like a brite-boy)

[@riogrande5761]

The modeler who did the wp8thsub used a utility knife blade dragged over the rails backwards to get the dried paint off. I tried it and it worked like a charm, so I didn't worry about wiping the paint off while wet.

[@w.rustylane5650]

When I get around to painting my track and roadbed, I'll start by airbrushing the cork roadbed a nice neutral grey color. I've got some acrylic rust colored paint for the rails and I'll use some brown for the sleepers. I will airbrush it all. Cheers from eastern TN

[@Rustyrailhead]

I think many of us get ahead of ourselves and we need to think about this project before laying track to boards. Doing this step at ones work station is much easier than leaning and stretching over the layout. As you doing it on a table close to you

[@chadportenga7858]

Good point, but remember that paint is typically non-conductive. You'll have to clean the rails anywhere you use a connector or solder leaders.

[@damianinCanadaTT-OO]

I was looking for exactly what you provided that is a simple step by step video on track weathering without an airbrush. Perfect. Thanks

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nja3224]

New to railroading, just purchased a Lionel Union Pacific starter set. IMO, the fast track is very cheap and unrealistic plastic looking system. I think it’s horrible really, so I searched KZbin to see if others out there did something to make the track look better. This is it. It seems like an awful lot of work, but well worth it. I considered other o gauge track, but they all seem to need a little work so I’ll just stick with this for now. If/when I expand, I’ll readdress my track options. Thank you for this.

[@wholefoodrunner840]

Well done! Both the track and the video are excellent! Thank you.

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Glad you liked it! Thanks! 😃👍

[@riogrande5761]

Hand painting rails and ties, for me at least with a large layout, takes too long. I use a light coat of Rustoleum Camo Brown spray paint. You can cover a lot of track in a short amount of time. To remove the paint from the surface of the rails, I used a utility knife blade scraped backwards across the rail. That was recommended to me by a modeler who has nice layout. Viewers may want to consider spray pant to cover rails and ties quickly. After that you may want to apply washes of other colors to weather the track.

[@markhagen2845]

In the u.s. the sleepers are mostly weed treated with creosote to preserve the wood . The creosote is black in color

[@NorthernJerseyRailroad]

Wow! I want to now go back and rip up all my track and start over again. Amazing result! Also, since I'm working in N gauge, in addition to lighting, a good set of magnifying lenses is also critical. :)

[@ScottRails]

Excellent work, well done.

[@tallmike6598]

Looks good !

[@davidfromtexas9681]

That is pretty nice sir. Much less expensive than buying those Woodland Scenics rail painters. I guess the thing that worries me, on my own layout, is will I end up regretting painting the rails and ties as it "could" mess up my engines and rolling stock. I have stressed a lot over that.

[@Phoenixknight79]

see I use the camo spray can, then I use a micro brush to paint the rails a rust color, but I have just started to test using powders on them.

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Good stuff

[@MMRails]

Great job! The track looks really good.

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting!

[@PoorBoyPennyShow]

they are black because it makes weathering them easier ,,i always paint things black when im gonna weather them ,,I once wondered why black but ive known for years now ,,good video

[@Ronin-ke5wm]

Looks really good. Thank you

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Glad to hear that! Thanks you! 😃

[@ALStudio3D]

Thanks for the video. I have some atlas code 100 and now I know how I'm gonna make them nice

[@PunkVader]

How did you clean the tops of the rails after painting? Did you wipe when it was still wet, or did you go over it with something after you were fully done? Looks amazing by the way!

[@chadportenga7858]

Most other videos I've seen say to remove the paint BEFORE it dries completely. You can use a scrap piece of cork or a thin cloth wrapped around a block of wood.

[@jgr6955]

Nice!

[@elleryparsons5766]

I found some paint And done My lifelike And it looks Very good got to get some Grey paint to finish some of my other Ho Tracks. I Have N ScaleI don’t think I am gonna try to paint the Tracks.

[@GarlandKent-y6k]

[thank, you for youre great helpful video.]

[@lukemarkbrady]

What colour brown did you use? im tying to find the same one

[@RogerBear-w5f]

They are most likely using a percentage of re-cycled plastic which when re-melted is dark in colour and black tint is used....

[@Johnpork911]

How do you paint them safely because I’m pretty sure applying paint to the rails can compromise it’s conductivity, is there some special paints for it or something?

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

The paint from the top of the rails gets cleaned after painting...

[@harrisynth]

Looks great! I'm using some cheaper acrylic paint, I think it looks decent enough but I'm worried that it might rub off onto the train wheels. Do you use any type of paint primer or hold of some sort to keep it from peeling off?

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Hi, thanks! I didn't use any primer. I just made sure that the tracks were nice and clean...

[@harrisynth]

@@TheCreativeModellerHO You're welcome! Oh ok cool! Thanks!

[@ChobertonJunction]

Hey there thank you for this. I have take notes for when i get to this point. Just wondering what your final wash was made from?

[@irenecraggs6123]

great video learning alot thank you

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@PeterGlen-s9z]

The black probably represents creosote preservative

[@BP_211yt]

When the track has black ties that means the rails are code 100 they’re brown that means They are code 83 or something like that

[@ALStudio3D]

The problem with code 83 is if you run old locomotives. But it is way more realistic despite the sleepers size.

[@corwin81]

I have Walthers/Shinohara turnouts that are code 83 with black ties

[@noname-style]

Great job! May I ask which brand track this is and specs?

[@RicktheRecorder]

Helpful, but in my experience most RTR track is dark brown.

[@MyVikinglife]

I'd be worried that painting the rails would stop them conducting electricity and the locos wouldn't run smoothly

[@HARDESTBOOM]

Buy g scale and run them outside, true wear and tear😂

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Lol ye

[@Oswaldo.]

I remember Lego having issues with brown plastic quality control, because its weaker to other colours.

[@TheCreativeModellerHO]

Yes, that's also a factor...

[@district2productions]

I buy track with brown ties

[@ALStudio3D]

Are they code 100 or 83?

[@district2productions]

@@ALStudio3D 83 and 100 I think

[@Steinstra-vj7wl]

🤣😂