Painting Atlas Code 55 Track

[Faire to Midland]

(Attachment Link)

Who makes that reefer? 

[Chinapig]

Well, I've learnt a lot and done a trial on a piece of nickel silver rail and after thoroughly cleaning it with ISO the paint went on a lot better.  The paint I generally use is Railmatch Sleeper Grime, an English brand that I've been using for years (I live in England).  I think I good cleaning is going to do the trick.
However, I have found a local supplier of Krylon and will try some of the Camouflage range of paints.
Bob, your trackwork is superb.
Thanks everyone.
Ted

[peteski]

Right, but robert3985 made the comment that "it was pretty well accepted that all injection-molded models had a residue of mold-release on them, and needed to be washed in warm, soapy water...then rinsed...before painting, so that paint would stick" - which was contrary to my own experience.

I guess I'm not amazed at all the confusing info out there.  My other  hobby is plastic model kits (cars, aircraft, etc.).  For decades the modelling community always recommend washing off any of the mold release residues from polystyrene.  Then someone (supposedly who works with polystyrene  injection molding machines informed us that no mold release is used when injection molding polystyrene.  But yet, I sometimes witnessed (usually on white plastic) some rusty colored residue on the molded parts, so I don't know who was/is correct.

And as it has been mentioned earlier, the track ties are not polystyrene - they are molded form another more slippery plastic which is harder to paint.

When I want to be absolutely sure that I  achieve flawless paint (like painting a body of a 1:24 scale automobile), I will give it a good washing. But for things like plastic track ties, I don't bother. But I still use the stinky organic solvent based paints, not the more fussy water-based paints.

[jpwisc]

Who makes that reefer?

That was the mini-kit from the Chicagoland RPM 2018 conference. I just did a write-up in the current issue of N Scale Railroading.

[MichaelWinicki]

I just painted the rail.

Didn't paint the ties because I thought the tie color found on Atlas code 55 track to be acceptable.

Plus once you ballast it there will be some subtle color change due to the alcohol & glue.

Then applied some light weathering powder in places.

[DKS]

But yet, I sometimes witnessed (usually on white plastic) some rusty colored residue on the molded parts, so I don't know who was/is correct.

Rusty-colored residue is actually... rust. Tooling is often steel, and if it's not cared for properly, it will rust. I've seen this particularly on older items that have been reissued--they just start using the old molds again without properly cleaning them first.

 

[Faire to Midland]

That was the mini-kit from the Chicagoland RPM 2018 conference. I just did a write-up in the current issue of N Scale Railroading.

OK, I'm sorry for my ignorance, are these mini kits available anywhere? Or am I out of luck?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Meh. Lots of advice but I'll tell you this.

My trick for painting Atlas Code 55? Sploosh some raw or burnt umber craft paint on it and spread it out with an acid brush.

It turns out ok.

[DeltaBravo]

I use the Krylon Camo paint on my Atlas code 80. Sticks like nobody's business.

[nickelplate759]

Meh. Lots of advice but I'll tell you this.

My trick for painting Atlas Code 55? Sploosh some raw or burnt umber craft paint on it and spread it out with an acid brush.

It turns out ok.

I like this one (it's cheap, easy, and no overspray in a finished room to worry about), but....  is "sploosh" some kind of artist's term?

[Atlas Paul]

All of the track ties (HO and N) are molded in ABS plastic. I am actually in China at one of our factories and checked while seeing this thread.

[DKS]

I like this one (it's cheap, easy, and no overspray in a finished room to worry about), but....  is "sploosh" some kind of artist's term?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I like this one (it's cheap, easy, and no overspray in a finished room to worry about), but....  is "sploosh" some kind of artist's term?

Dammit, he beat me to it!

[bman]

Dammit, he beat me to it!

I’m still waiting for an explanation  of what your “sploosh” application method is. I’d rather not know more about the animated method thank you very much.

[peteski]

I’m still waiting for an explanation  of what your “sploosh” application method is. I’d rather not know more about the animated method thank you very much.

Just "pee" the weathering solution/paint all over the track.