Will 'domestic' paint work in an airbrush?

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Mike Hughes - 29 Aug 2009 10:26 GMT

Although my model is US outline the problems are the same for UK outline
and I need help from people in the UK please.

I have quite a bit of track to be painted before ballasting. Up to now
I've only painted a relatively small area. mainly around pointwork. I
have now laid quite a bit more track and the time has come to paint most
of this track.

My previous painting has been done laboriously using a paint brush. I'm
quite happy to continue to do this around the points but I'm hoping to
use an airbrush to spray the main part of the track including the ties
(sleepers).

Up to now I've only bought small paint containers. I will need a lot
more paint. I'm considering taking a sample to my local paint merchant
and asking them to match the colour I'm already using. If they can do
this I can then mix up a quantity to a consistency suitable for
spraying.

Before doing this I have a few questions.

Has anyone done this?
Was It successful?
Do you think that I can get the (water based) paint thin enough?
Will 'domestic' (emulsion) paint be OK or do I need to find a
specialist.

Your experience and advice much appreciated.

If it helps this is for my loft layout here's an example of the track I
will be painting http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/p53954382.html

Signature

Mike Hughes
Marketing Co-ordinator NMRA British Region
Modelling the North American Way
Interested in American trains real and model?
Look here http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/

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Wolf K - 29 Aug 2009 15:23 GMT

> Although my model is US outline the problems are the same for UK outline
> and I need help from people in the UK please.

Answer to subject line query:
Only if you use an airbrush (sprayer) intended for it. Pigment in
"domestic" paint is quite large compared to that in model paints.

HTH
wolf k.

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Mike Hughes - 30 Aug 2009 12:12 GMT

>> Although my model is US outline the problems are the same for UK
>>outline and I need help from people in the UK please.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>HTH
>wolf k.

Thanks Wolf. There was something in the deep dark recesses of my memory
that told me this but I needed to have it confirmed.

Looks like it will have to be another plan :-)

Signature

Mike Hughes
Marketing Co-ordinator NMRA British Region
Modelling the North American Way
Interested in American trains real and model?
Look here http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/

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Rich - 29 Aug 2009 16:37 GMT

Mike
How much track do you need to paint? Using a reasonable quality
airbrush I would expect to be able to weather a very large layout with
one or two jars of normal modelling acrylic or enamel paint. I cant
see the need to trouble of trying to use domestic paint :-)

R

>Although my model is US outline the problems are the same for UK outline
>and I need help from people in the UK please.
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>If it helps this is for my loft layout here's an example of the track I
>will be painting http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/p53954382.html

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Just zis Guy, you know? - 30 Aug 2009 09:21 GMT

>How much track do you need to paint? Using a reasonable quality
>airbrush I would expect to be able to weather a very large layout with
>one or two jars of normal modelling acrylic or enamel paint. I cant
>see the need to trouble of trying to use domestic paint :-)

I don't even get the airbrush out for this, but I only have about half
a kilometre of track to do...

Guy

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http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/wiki/Railway
Finding my way in OO gauge DCC

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Mike Hughes - 30 Aug 2009 12:22 GMT

>Mike
>How much track do you need to paint? Using a reasonable quality
>airbrush I would expect to be able to weather a very large layout with
>one or two jars of normal modelling acrylic or enamel paint. I cant
>see the need to trouble of trying to use domestic paint :-)

I will have a minimum of 100 actual yards of track not counting the
various points, etc. And there will be more to come later.

Part of the problem is that I've already used some acrylic paint I got
in small containers from a model shop and I'd like to use the same, or
very nearly the same colour for the large (non pointwork) area. That's
why I though that I could get the colour matched at the local B&Q or
similar.

On reflection it would probably be easier to ask my friendly model shop
(The Hobby Box in Uckfield if anyone wants to know somewhere you will
get good friendly service!) I bought the original paint from and see if
they can get larger quantities for me.

With the above in mind how much do you think I would be likely to need?
I'm painting on to rail and track which is fixed to cork on plywood so
this may be very absorbent. I realise that I'll probably have to apply
at least two coats of paint, the first being diluted about 50/50 and any
subsequent coats being stronger - unless experiments prove otherwise
(I'm not holding my breath)

Thanks for your welcome advice

>>Although my model is US outline the problems are the same for UK outline
>>and I need help from people in the UK please.
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>>If it helps this is for my loft layout here's an example of the track I
>>will be painting http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/p53954382.html

Signature

Mike Hughes
Marketing Co-ordinator NMRA British Region
Modelling the North American Way
Interested in American trains real and model?
Look here http://mikehughes627.fotopic.net/

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Rich - 30 Aug 2009 17:06 GMT

I must admit I assumed that the track would be ballasted and that you
would be simply weathering down the track. When airbrushing with a
good brush the amount of paint you use is very small. I am guessing
but with suitable thinned paint as a rule of thumb 1ml to the yard.
But it does really depend on your ability with the airbrush and the
amount of overspray.

e-mail me offline and we can have a chat about spraying

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Model Forum / General / Railroads / August 2009

Will 'domestic' paint work in an airbrush?