Airbrush with ModelFlex Rail Brown

I'm not sure I use the best way, but I'll share what I do.  I'm HO and use Atlas turnouts.

I airbrush the entire turnout with ModelFlex Rail Brown Acrylic paint.  After it's pretty much dried, I run one of those sanding pads lightly over the top of the rail, about 120 grit.  I finalize that with one at 600 grit to remove any scratches.

I think if I were doing a showpiece model, I'd find a better way, but for a large layout with many switches, this is working for me.

I've never worked with an N scale turnout, so keep in mind this is for HO.

I airbrush mine as well, track too

I just make a few passes over track with my very cheap Testors airbrush using whatever "rail brown" type acrylic paint I have lying around at the moment. Even a low cost airbrush is fine for track painting and simple weathering.

Micro brush

I use a micro brush dipped lightly to match the weathered ME code 70 I use. I only have 14 turnouts so it was no big deal or time for me to do. YMMV.

Tom

keep it light

For N scale I'd just airbrush the outside rails from a low angle .avoiding the points as much as possible. A very light coat of airbrushed paint shouldn't be a problem. Rub the rail tops clean with a damp cloth before the paint fully hardens (or use a brite boy if you wait till later)  I think making sure the track works well is more important than the looks when it comes to turnouts so I don't go too heavy on paint or ballast around the points.....DaveB

Use LaBelle plastic compatible oil, or similar.

Just a little oil on the points and ties where the points slide will keep paint from causing the points to stick.  I'm talking one drop per tie, and then work the points to spread the oil so paint does not cause points to stick.

Painting Turnouts

By Hand 

Rattle can

I rattled can all my HO turnouts including custom built, Shinohara, Atlas ect with zero issues with operation.  As some one posted above a small drop of oil ( I prefer CRC 2-26 ) at all critical places so paint wont stick.  Scrub tops of rails clean before pain dries hard.  I use Rustoleum Camo Brown!  

Works for me!

Reference to previous thread

I did reply to your earlier blog about painting track. Perhaps you did not see my reply. Here is a link to my earlier reply:

About track painting/weathering

Update: I found where a location for the slides is available, thanks to Jerry Bengston (JerryRGS). It is here:

PDF of Tim's slides

painting turnouts

All track, including turnouts, painted prior to installation. Masking tape pieces to cover contact areas on points and adjacent rail, rail heads wiped with cotton swab dipped in light oil. Turnout sprayed with Rustoleum camouflage brown from aerosol can, rail heads wiped immediately with a clean rag. Touch up and weathering with a brush after track is installed and feeders attached.

Joe S