Rail Brown

[Chris333]

So my last two nice full bottles of Floquil rail brown dried up. Any one use Tru-Color rail brown? Is it a close match for the old stuff. On the color chip sample thingie it looks more like rust than rail brown.

Posting in N scale for more answers 

I've read that Model Masters Russian Earth Brown is close, but still wonder about the Tru-Color.

[johnb]

Try Model Master 4708.

[TLOC]

Joe Fugate did a study and he has a free guide on the MRH Forums.
 
     For replacing Rail Brown:

model master also per johnb is #MM4708
microlux is #ML29001
vallejo air is # VMA 71.029
model flex is #16-175

He has a massive chart for all the colors that has helped me tremendously

TomO

[hegstad1]

Do you have a link to said chart?  Thanks

[TLOC]

Try this
Tom

[mmagliaro]

Link to the forum page where you found that file?

That file link you posted won't work.  It's a direct path to somebody's "C" drive on a Windows machine.

[ryan_wilkerson]

http://www.testors.com/~/media/DigitalEncyclopedia/Documents/Testors/ebook/MRH-Acrylic-painting-guide-post-Floquil-Portrait.ashx

[TLOC]

My bad, pdf to my computer, I see the correct one is listed

Tom

[Chris333]

Looked up MM 4708 and it's acrylic, but 1702 is the same in enamel.

To paint metal rails and metal wheels I'd rather use solvent based paint. I think they tend to chip less.

Thanks.

[peteski]

The other big problem with a substitute is the thickness of the paint and the glossiness or flatness.  Floquil went on in very thin layer and it resulted in a nice dull finish. I have not yet found an ideal substitute for Floquil paints and I make sure that my stash does not dry up.

[jmarley76]

I've been using Tamiya with good results. Not sure what the exact match for Rail Brown might be; here's the link to their color charts: https://www.tamiyausa.com/articles/feature.php?article-id=72#.WD3urX1yxqw

[Chris333]

While out shopping for paint I picked up a large spray can of Krylon chalky finish anvil gray. It looks perfect for grimey black. Already sprayed some MTL trucks and it looks nice and flat.

[johnb]

I painted my track with Krylon camouflage brown

Yes, it is Atlas Code 80, old stock that said "Made in U.S.A." on the bottom....

[robert3985]

I've been using Krylon Camo Brown on my track for years.  I don't know if it's a match for Floquil Rail Brown, but as far as a rail color is concerned, it works well for me...and is really ULTRA-flat, and adheres really well also.  Plus, I can buy it at any number of stores, including WalMart in the middle of the night if I need to...

However, I don't use it alone.  First, I spray my track with Camo Black, then let it dry for a bit, and then I take an old flexible Brite-Boy and take the paint off the tops of the rails (BEFORE the paint cures!).  Then, I spray Camo Brown from directly overhead as lightly as I can, to color the ties chiefly, letting the overspray hit the sides of the rails.  Once again, I remove the paint from the tops of the rails before the paint cures...then I go over random ties with various browns and washes to get a more random look to the tie color.  Usually six or seven ties per 10" works well.

Then, after I ballast my track, I weather it with a rusty red-brown color with my airbrush to represent the weed-killer that U.P. uses on their mainline trackage up Weber and Echo Canyons, then spray a grimy black dusting down the middle of the rails, noticeably more on the up-grade track.

Photo (1) - Railcraft C70 track, rail color is Krylon Camo Brown:


That's my method.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Chris333]

I like that brown camo paint and would use it for track ties in the future, but I like the rails to be a different color. 

This is industrial trackage so I went a little more rusty (rail brown plus rust mixed):



Over on the mainline I just use straight rail brown:



Not a big difference between tie brown and rail brown, but enough that I want it     Plus I also paint my FVM wheels the same rail color.