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.
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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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. I should make him return it and pay the difference for flex track.

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