Camouflaging switch machines

A technique that I have dabbled with a bit - and got from someone else, somewhen else? - but that works pretty well is:

Once you have finished your scenery and ground cover and buildings and clutter, use some craft store flat acrylic paints (not expensive) and a smallish brush to paint each switch machine in a color (or colors, even) that blends in with whatever is around the machine. Grassy area? Flat olive (or whatever is appropriate) green. Desert? An appropriate tan. Etc.

It's also easy. They won't disappear, but the thumb will be less sore (maybe almost invisible, at least when not in your face), and avoids the contrived "covers" that can look worse than the machine (these can be quite effective, however).

Just a thought. It can help. And you only have to paint the part you see. 

I remember years ago looking in some material my grandpa had of older railroads, and in yards they had all this "piping" going from the switch tower to the switches.  Like this:

With using Atlas switches, I was planning on at least a few of my switches to run the wires along the top of the layout from the switch machine to a tower.  I think with the look of their switch machines it'll be visually pleasing.

Painting would be helpful, I don't remember ever seeing the piping method but it seems like a possibility

sinclair posted:

I remember years ago looking in some material my grandpa had of older railroads, and in yards they had all this "piping" going from the switch tower to the switches.  Like this:

With using Atlas switches, I was planning on at least a few of my switches to run the wires along the top of the layout from the switch machine to a tower.  I think with the look of their switch machines it'll be visually pleasing.

That's not piping.  Those are throw rods that go from the tower to individual switches.  The switches are thrown by the good old "Armstrong" method.

Rusty

I know it's not piping, hence the quotes.

Here is what I did at my depot / switch tower.  I built wood box to blend in with the station platform.

Steve

Steve24944 posted:

Here is what I did at my depot / switch tower.  I built wood box to blend in with the station platform.

Steve

I like the green "Pullmans", looks familiar

Steve - Fabulous job!  Very nicely done.

Art

I've camouflaged a few of my switches by putting accessories on top of them or by piling rocks or tires on them. Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, but at least you can get a sense of my approach.

George

I never found a really good way to cover the Z machines so my new layout is all under table machines. Don

Posted before; may have missed them

I've got stacks of concrete pipe on my road construction scene.