Model Railway Forum

Does anyone have any views on painting sleepers to get rid of the slightly plastic look, prior to ballasting? Or does the ballasting process sort this?

I seem to have memories, somewhat distant, of doing this as a teenager. Maybe a misspent youth hood!

My preferred method is to spray the laid, wired and tested track with Humbrol no29 (mid brown) before ballasting. Mask the contact areas of the point blades first. After ballasting I add rust and oil shades with an airbrush. Finally, give the track a good clean with a track rubber, a Hoover and a wipe with IPA.

I don’t paint the sleepers but ballast the track then add colour to the ballast depending on its location. e.g. black where locos would be standing.

I was about to share a photo but Flickr appears to have updated and changed its settings.......again.

Got it. Gives an idea of what my method looks like.

20190814_190726 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Appreciate the replies, many thanks.