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 Posted - August 17 2011 : 9:20:32 PM
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While finishing up my wood molding/roadbed projects today, I got into painting the plastic EZ snap-track when a friend mentioned that it might look good with the spatter-paint I used on the wood moldings. Hmm. So I tried it the simple way, and then the more time-consuming way. But it came out looking good, if I can make a paint cover jig to just lay over the straight and curved tracks, it will go MUCH faster. Here's what they look like -
Took me about 15 seconds to tape the straight piece,about 20 minutes to do the curved. But the results are excellent. What's the opinion from the peanut gallery?
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 17 2011 : 10:27:43 PM
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| Looks GREAT Jerry - I have that paint too - Stone fleck - Works great on structures too for art deco style look
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Helm
Little Six
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Posted - August 18 2011 : 06:58:27 AM
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Great idea and it looks good!
Just an idea - Would it be easier to just mask off the rails, then spray, then paint the top of the ties by hand? Maybe with a paint marker - like the rail coloring ones Floquil makes?
RicH
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Posted - August 18 2011 : 2:24:07 PM
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quote:
Just an idea - Would it be easier to just mask off the rails, then spray, then paint the top of the ties by hand? Maybe with a paint marker
RicH
Originally posted by Helm - August 18 2011 : 06:58:27 AM
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Problem with a marker would be that this paint is textured thickly, and so are the ties, so you're doubling the texture you have to deal with. I'm sure a marker would work well on a smooth surface, but trying to color a textured, just-painted surface might be more work than the masking. I'm thinking maybe just cut strips of tape the width of the ties, then a thin length to cover the rails, instead of doing all the individual cut-outs. I may try it that way, see how fast I can do that. A jig would be best, of course, but that will take time to create an effective one. Not that I don't have time, of course. LOL. Besides, I hate painting, I'd rather mask off than do tedious painting or marking. :) What can I say, I have my Dad to blame for paint aversion. These two projects have gone quickly, so it doesn't bother me as much. Good suggestion, though.
Jerry
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Posted - August 18 2011 : 11:51:57 PM
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Nice job, Jerry. It's alway nice to see someone creating new ideas for detailing
Walt
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 12:35:20 AM
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I think that looks really good. Much better than the gray paint with sand in it for painting roadbed that was around when I was a kid. Any ideas for making a mask?
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 07:44:38 AM
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quote:I think that looks really good.. Any ideas for making a mask?
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â August 19 2011Â :Â 12:35:20 AM
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A fellow club member posted that maybe I could use a latex coating, then cut out the tie spacings on that. Not sure how flimsy latex mold material is, really. I've never worked with molds at all.
Now, MAYBE tin-foil would work, it's got some rigidity, could be reused if careful, and would be easy to cut out with a sharp Xact-o knife. Maybe I'll try that today, see how it works out.
Jerry
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 09:36:21 AM
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Success ! I created a simple paint jig out of aluminum foil, then used masking tape over THAT to give it some strength. I painted the first curved track already, and then after 10 minutes, I pulled the paint mask jig off carefully, re-applied it to another curved piece, and have shot that with the paint. I'm almost out of the paint, I think I can do 2 more sections before it may give out. We'll see. I think as long as I'm careful with it, it'll hold up to being reused a few times. Took me about 30 minutes to make it, but the time savings will be incredible for painting multiple sections of track. I'll try to do enough for a nice sized oval. Next i'll have to make a jig for straight sections. But I'm liking the way it came out already!
Here's the jig and the first section painted.
   
This is one project I'm REALLY having fun with!
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 11:18:46 AM
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11:15 AM update - I have painted 4 curved sections so far, and about out of paint. Will buy another can at Wal-mart while out today. The jig is not rigid enough, it's bending a bit with the paint on it, but so far, I've got 4 done , and the first 3 look pretty good. I'm not looking for perfect, just acceptable. So far, they pass muster. I might get enough curves to do a full circle out of this one jig. Yay!
Jerry
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 4:08:06 PM
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Very Cool! I Should Do That For My N Scale Track!
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 7:13:09 PM
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| What a fantastic idea.
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 7:53:09 PM
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Update 7:50 PM - had my wife rescue the last piece before the storm hit and blew it down on the deck.  Got home and pulled the other 3 I'd done that were up high and dry on a 10 gallon aquarium and brought those in, too. So here's the 6 I've done so far, the far left with a custom masking tape fit, the other 4 curves with that one foil jig on the right one still,and the simple straight piece with two pieces of tape.
Off to Wal-mart with the wife in a minute, going to get another can, this one was running empty, and the last one has more black still showing, but still acceptable to me . Close enough! If it's not raining tomorrow, I will try to finish a circle's worth. Then start on the straight pieces. Lookin' good!
Jerry
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 9:17:01 PM
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Looks Good!
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Posted - August 19 2011 : 11:03:58 PM
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Nice job on the foil mask. I wonder if there's any thick glue you could layer on, like Gorilla Glue or epoxy that would make it more durable.
The Tyco Depot
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Posted - August 20 2011 : 10:07:07 AM
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quote:Nice job on the foil mask. I wonder if there's any thick glue you could layer on, like Gorilla Glue or epoxy that would make it more durable.
Originally posted by NickelPlate759Â -Â August 19 2011Â :Â 11:03:58 PM
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I hadn't thought of epoxy, but that might make a nice rigid coating that would help it hold up longer. The foil ears on the outside of the rails are the worst to try to keep in shape. But so far, they're holding up. I don't know if they'll last 7 more curves, but I will keep using it until it's no longer viable.
Jerry
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Posted - August 20 2011 : 10:09:20 AM
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quote:Very Cool! I Should Do That For My N Scale Track!
Originally posted by CNVIATyco - August 19 2011 : 4:08:06 PM
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Doing the cut-outs for THAT small a track, whew! Let me know if you try it.
Jerry
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Posted - August 20 2011 : 4:41:03 PM
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Here's my half-way point, I got 6 curved pieces painted. My jig is starting to curl upwards, can't keep the outer tie ends covered enough, so I've stopped at 5 pieces with it. I"m doing masking on a 7th piece, but have run out of Oomph now. I tried individual strips,but it's easier to just lay the tape on the track and cut it all out, even though it takes longer.
 
So, looking good,now if I can JUST keep up my motivation to finish the other half, I'll be set. LOL. But it's gonna look GOOD when I'm done.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 21 2011 : 10:31:00 AM
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Sunday Aug 21 update - got up in AM and finished cutting out masking tape around the ties, and then painted the LAST 2 curved pieces I have to make a full circle. Yay, this project is about over! I have two straight pieces, but one of my curved sections is missing a rail joiner connector, so I'll have to rob a straight piece to replace it with. at least I'll have a full circle to use. Should look pretty, when the paint dries on the last two, I'll assemble it and try running something on the hot tub railroad later this afternoon.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 23 2011 : 2:30:32 PM
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Looking Good! That Was Fast!
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Posted - August 24 2011 : 8:38:01 PM
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Final installment - finished circle of Power Lok / EZ track. Ran my Krauss Maffei tonight on it, found one rail with some paint that slowed it down, otherwise minimal clean-up. Had to dig out some paint in the corners where it snapped together, but otherwise a "clean" project. Man, if I could get a jig to do the straights and curves, I'd paint them all yesterday! LOL. I think it looks great, and I even left the narrow space on the power track between the rails untaped so it could get some paint down inside there, where there was molded ballast.
A first for me, a start-to-finish job in just a few days. Still want to do the straights, but I can take my time, as now I can just run the circle for awhile. Cleo, my newest cat, hasn't seen a train up close, this was her first time, she was a bit nervous,but didn't freak when the trains went round and round. Walked back and forth a bit to inspect it, though.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - August 24 2011 : 8:44:17 PM
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Looking Good!
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Posted - November 18 2012 : 10:35:48 PM
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| This looks good. I may have to consider this on my son's war layout with the Power Loc track that is on it.
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Posted - November 20 2012 : 05:55:21 AM
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This looks fantastic! I'm working with my brother-in-law to make some custom molded roadbed for existing brass track I own. It should go fairly smoothly because I can mold for specific brands - and make sure they fit together.
If I then paint with this paint - that will give me the color I'm looking for, and I can just attach the tracks to the pre-formed, pre-painted roadbed! This will give me the look of ballasted track combined with the ease of EZ track, at significant cost savings.
Thank you for all of the photos - it really looks great!
Starting my Tyco and other favorites collection over again after 37 years.
My still in progress list of inventory and wantlist: tyconut.com
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