aged track test photo #1

[tom mann]

I need to go for the grey tie, old track look.  Thoughts?

[AlkemScaleModels]

I need to go for the grey tie, old track look.  Thoughts?

What scale is it?

[wcfn100]

SInce you kept the real dark brown underneath, I assume you are going for the ties that start turning white/grey due to age as opposed to the ones that are grey due to normal weathering.

So something like this:

Old Ties

I think the out-of-scale wood grain is creating a finger print look.  I would try introducing a little more color variation for the dark brown in the grain.

FWIW


Jason

[DKS]

The rail is magnificent. The ties, I think, need more variation between them, perhaps as well as some that are distressed; they seem too uniform to go with the track.

[wcfn100]

I guess what I was trying to get at is if you look at the link I posted, the white parts tend to lye on the flat surfaces independent of the grain.  If you are dry brushing the white, this might not be possible with the heavy grain on the ties.


Jason

[tom mann]

The track is ME HO code 70, the second best track available (the first being ME HO code 55 )

Agree that the ties are too uniform, but in photos of the area I'm modeling (notice how I'm keeping that a secret), most of the ties are covered up with dirt or ballast, so the extra work would be lost!

[tom mann]

I guess what I was trying to get at is if you look at the link I posted, the white parts tend to lye on the flat surfaces independent of the grain.  If you are dry brushing the white, this might not be possible with the heavy grain on the ties.


Jason

I think that depends on which way "up" is. 

[DKS]

Here's a handful of reference photos.

[DKS]

Agree that the ties are too uniform, but in photos of the area I'm modeling (notice how I'm keeping that a secret), most of the ties are covered up with dirt or ballast, so the extra work would be lost!

Now you tell us...

[Dave V]

Wow, man.  That's awesome!  The rust is dead-on!

[John]

I agree  .. the rust is right on .. but, here is the question .. are you going to actually try to run trains on this? or is it a photo diorama?  if the first, you gonna need to have some shiny ..

[wm3798]

How about the split ties?  The out of kilter ones will be easy, but you'll need to break a few, and really rough up some.  Also, there might be some that are in reasonably good shape... Consider that a few might have been replaced just prior to abandonment... or the storm, or whatever...

Lee

[John]

Here's a handful of reference photos.

You been railfanning CSX? or is that the freight lead into NAS Lakehurst?

[tom mann]

How about the split ties?  The out of kilter ones will be easy, but you'll need to break a few, and really rough up some.  Also, there might be some that are in reasonably good shape... Consider that a few might have been replaced just prior to abandonment... or the storm, or whatever...

Lee

You know, I just might do this for a few of them.

[ednadolski]

I agree, the rail looks terrific. Maybe it's me, but it looks like some of the tieplates on the near rail were partly missed with the rust color (compared to the tieplates on the rear rail).  Were you using masking tape & spraying the rails?

It's hard for me to judge the ties without ballast, since that can really change the look.  (I've never had good results with painted plastic ties.  To me, nothing looks like wood as much as real wood ties.)

I've found the ME track plastics can have trouble bonding with some kinds of paints.  Did you use any kind of Dullcote or other primer?

If this is meant to be a branch line, you might want to increase the spacings in the ties a bit.  Also, if you pre-paint the flextrack before laying it into place, you may have to touch up little shiny spots on the rails where the spikes move.

Lastly, have you tried the Details West code 70 fishplates?  Those would be a nice touch.  (Their cast frogs look great too, if you ever want to hand-lay turnouts.)

Ed