OK, I know I am into playing trains and not rivet counting, but rails in sidings are very often dull, whereas model rails must always be bright to ensure good contact. Does anyone know a way of dulling rail heads while maintaining conductivity? I thought of using conductive paint (which is available in a dull silver) but it's not really dull enough.
Guy
Try gun bluing, the stuff used by gunsmiths to colour the steel. Easy to get over here. Or try Blacken-it (made in USA for hobbyists, so it costs more than gun-bluing). After application, polish the railhead, it will have a dullish sheen.
Warning: it's a selenium salt solution, so take the usual precautions.
HTH
wolf k.
On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:15:40 -0500, Wolf K said in :
Thanks, there is a gunsmith locally so I should be able to get some.
Guy
"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote
I think one manufacturer (was it SMP?) used to produce flexi-track (and individual pieces of rail) from phosphor bronze. This had a nice dark reddy-brown hue, and looked far more realistic than bright nickel-silver.
Is it still available?
John.
I used it in OO 30+ years ago.
I remember an article by Stewart Hinewhere he used paxolin for the check and wing rails on turnouts, which would also be rusty - a perennial problem with these is that as soon as you clean the track they become bright again.
Chris,
By complete coincidence, I read that article the other day :-) It's by Brian Tilbury and Stewart Hine in Your Model Railways Dec, 1984.
Jim.
Micro Engineering (USA firm) makes flex track with "weathered" flat bottom rail. It's a dark brown. Wood and concrete ties available. The concrete tie version might do for UK track, since the spacing is a little wider. M-E track is very nice stuff - I've not seen _any_ hand-laid track that matches it for realistic appearance. Pricey, but IMO worth it if you want the best.
cheers,
wolf k.
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