painting your layout

[roch]

Would you paint before of after laying track?
I am thinking of doing it before on my next project.
The first 2 time I tried to do it after and found that it is a royal pain to paint in between n gauge ties. wall1
Also, what colr paints do u use?
I only have black and green at the moment. I had brown at one time but can't find it.
I use oil based paints because I love the smell.

Roch​

 

[steamhead]

It depends....If you're talking flex track, it's useless to paint beforehand. The first "flexing" will reveal all the little unpainted spots under the "spike heads". If you're talking "rigid" snap-track (B'mann, Kato, Atlas) you can probably get away with it, and just do a little touch up here and there.

 

[Ralph]

Latex will work just fine Roch. I painted my road beds before laying track.
Ballasting covered any imperfections later. I used a sort of gray/tan color that I just happened to find in pint sized cans at my local hardware store.
Ralph

 

[roch]

It depends....If you're talking flex track, it's useless to paint beforehand. The first "flexing" will reveal all the little unpainted spots under the "spike heads". If you're talking "rigid" snap-track (B'mann, Kato, Atlas) you can probably get away with it, and just do a little touch up here and there.

I wish I had some flex track. I would love to make a layout that is not restricted to the premade curves.

It is all atlas stiff track. I love the track, but I messed up when I bought it because my ride was in a hurry. wall1 I should make him return it and pay the difference for flex track. :curse:

roch

 

[puddlejumper]

If you're talking about painting the layout itself paint it before you lay track. Paint the track after you lay it. In both cases you will get better results this way.

Dave