Subj : Painting models
To   : ALL
From : Mike Powell
Date : Wed Dec 06 2023 14:35:00

I am working on a scene on my model railroad.  I wanted to paint the rail
ties and also the rail a more realistic color.  Woodland Scenics sells some
paint markers that are specifically made for the task.  One is called
"Weathered Tie" and the other "Rusty Rail."

The track I was working with already has ties that are a decent color but
they do have that plastic shine to them.  While the "Weathered Tie" pen is
also a good color, it also dries with a shine.  I was a little
dissappointed.

The "Rusty Rail" color dries to the same color as the "Weathered Tie"
color, which means it does not really match the color on the label (which
does look more rusty).  That said, it is not a bad color.  However, the pen
tips on both pens are not particularly small.  I model in HO and found it
very difficult to use the rail pen without getting it on parts I was not
trying to paint.

I think both of them will have other uses during my modeling, but not for
what I bought them for.  If I modeled in a scale larger than HO, the rail
pen would probably work just fine.

I have been experimenting with other paints.  For several things, I use
Delta Ceramcoat paints.  I did not find any of those locally this time
around, but did find a couple of other brands of acrylic craft paints --
Apple Barrel and Folkart -- that had colors I thought I could work with.

I have been mixing AB's Burnt Umber with a color that FA calls Pueblo,
which has a good orange/rust look to it. I can also mix it with the AB Brown
Oxide, in place of the Burnt Umber, to have a different shade of
dark-n-rust.

Applying the mixtures with a fine brush seems to work good on the rails.
Still playing with the ties, but I think I can find something I like.  The
good news here is that the colors dry with a lot less shine to them, even
though the FA Pueblo is a satin finish paint.  Mixing it with the matte AB
colors seems to work well.

I do have to use a primer on the rails.  I used Testors Acryl brush-on
primer I found in an old paint set.  I hope I can find more of it when I
run out!

Hmmm, maybe this should have gone in the acrylic painting echo.  ;)

Mike

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