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Weathering Lionel Fastrack

fgrozafgrozaOGR Forum Member
Took a 10" st section and did a little weathering on it to see if it would look a little better than factory fresh. It took about 3 min. to do the complete section. I used Floquil roof brown on the rails and grimy black on the center rail. I also sprayed the roadbed with the grimy black. I used a Passche VL series airbrush and pulled the paint straight from the bottle. I think ballast could be spread on the sides to enhance appearence.

Frank
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RickORickOOGR Forum Member
I used woodland scenics coarse gray ballast on my fastrack. I first applied a decent layer of straight white glue to the tapered side of the fastrack roadbed with a tapered foam paintbrush. I then sprinkled a nice even layer of ballast on to the glue which will keep it right on the road bed. I let it dry overnight, and then "flowed" on the "scenic cement" ie 50/50 water/glue,with an eyedropper to secure the ballast completely. This gives a fairly realistic tapered ballast edge.I still need to weather it however.
Last edited by RickO
S SB..OGR Forum Member
What I like about the fastrack is how the center rail has mirror finish sides to it. This reflects the ties and really helps diminish it's appearance. Too bad they didn't make it a lot skinnier like scaletrax with maybe a sharp square profile at the top. This would have really made the center rail almost disappear. Still looks good though.

I'm not a big fan of blackened center rail on most track systems.
fgrozafgrozaOGR Forum Member
There is some talent on this thread!!! Great looking and it's fastrack! Thanks for replying and giving as example what can be done to hide the "plastic" so to speak. A lot less work than putting down cork then the track and it looks good. Do any of you have excessive noise transmitted through the roadbed to the plywood under the track?
Frank
TMackTMackOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
I have not weathered my track, but I noticed that the section that I have glued down the scenery right up to the road bed is quieter. I did not screw down each piece either. Maybe every 4 or 5 pieces then added a screw. This year I will probably not weather the track, but I am liking what everyone is accomplishing here.


2012 Fastrack Layout 39 by tedmackel, on Flickr
RickORickOOGR Forum Member
When I initially began my layout I tested the design directly on the plywood which for me, was insanely noisey. I ultimately went with pink styrofoam insulation sheets over the plywood(osb) top,I glued them on with hot glue,then layed the track. While most members say that pink insulation is not a sound deadener like homasote, the pink insulation made a huge reduction in fastrack noise and I am pleased with the results.
Ray MarionRay MarionOGR Forum Member
Anything and not screwing into the plywood will help the sound level. Homasote works on the sound, holds a screw and will take glue for scenery. I put a layer of window sill sealer between the track and homasote. I did see foam rolls for concrete expansion joints that might work also. They are thicker than the window sill foam.

Don't forget the speed of the train and type of cars will effect sound also.

Ray Marion
D500D500OGR Forum Member
Jumijo -

Really like the look of your layout. The inexpensive (not "cheap") and tinplate equipment in that realistic
setting should teach those of us (I'm the worst) that the latest 4-6-6-6-6-4 doesn't make a layout nice.
A nice layout makes a layout nice. I wish that I could focus like that. The Fastrack looks good.

I like the product, but it always has that high-end toy look. Apparently, it can be made to look
really sharp. The tie-spacing and low rails have always been a plus. The roadbed is well-proportioned.

The U-shaped rails still bother me, even though on your layout - and others' - I now have to really
look to see them.
TMackTMackOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
Jim, Thanks for posting the pictures, I can't remember if I have seen you layout before. Very very nice.


D500, I was given a bunch of Fastrack (which prompted me to finally abandone my HO pursuits) and because my kids an I started on the carpet we bought more. When we came off the floor last year I figured - that it works, works well, looks relatively good and since I will probably never get to the level of some of the Scale modelers around here, I will have fun with what I got.

I have a piece of Atlas O and I am going to use that on my elevated trolley, but it fell off the table Saturday and the plastic connector on the end broke. Fastrack is pretty durable compared.

I just am not sure if it is that big a deal to try and figure out how to make it look "exactly real". The elephant is already in the room with the 3rd rail, no matter how much people try to hide that 3rd rail everyone else sees it Wink and the 3rd rail does not bother me.
S SalvagniOGR Forum Member
I like the way you weathered your rails and ties what was the proccess that you used?  What Manufacturers did you use for the paint? Where/how did you use the india ink?  thank you for your input.
 
Originally Posted by Ray Marion:
Here's mine. Brennan's ballast, ink wash and painted rail using rail brown pens. Adding some chalks next will bring the colors together.





Ray Marion

 

S sinclairOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Lee Willis:
Originally Posted by D500:

 . . .  the latest 4-6-6-6-6-4 doesn't make a layout nice.
A nice layout makes a layout nice.

Still, I want one of those 4-6-6-6-6-4 locomotives!

Perhaps he meant a 4-6-6+6-6-4 Garratt locomotive.  Now if someone made a O36 Class GMAM 4-8-2+2-8-4 Garratt, I'd be all over that.

A AMCDaveOGR Forum Member
fgroza posted:
Took a 10" st section and did a little weathering on it to see if it would look a little better than factory fresh. It took about 3 min. to do the complete section. I used Floquil roof brown on the rails and grimy black on the center rail. I also sprayed the roadbed with the grimy black. I used a Passche VL series airbrush and pulled the paint straight from the bottle. I think ballast could be spread on the sides to enhance appearence.

Frank

Let's see it!!!!!

mattrainmattrainOGR Forum Member

I'm getting ready to tackle some Fastrack weathering myself - I went in the OGR digital archives to see if I could pull up Run 234, but alas it's not digitized (oldest the library goes back is 239 - so close!).  Does anyone know where or how I can find a copy of the "Making FasTrack More Realistic" article?  

@Christopher2035 - I love how yours looks! how did you mix then apply the india ink and black paint? What kind of paint did you use? Did you apply with a foam or bristle brush or an airbrush?

Christopher2035Christopher2035OGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
mattrain posted:

I'm getting ready to tackle some Fastrack weathering myself - I went in the OGR digital archives to see if I could pull up Run 234, but alas it's not digitized (oldest the library goes back is 239 - so close!).  Does anyone know where or how I can find a copy of the "Making FasTrack More Realistic" article?  

@Christopher2035 - I love how yours looks! how did you mix then apply the india ink and black paint? What kind of paint did you use? Did you apply with a foam or bristle brush or an airbrush?

If I recall, I mixed it in a small dish & used a bristle brush to apply it. Another option is to ballast it, which I did on my last layout -  I used store bought cat litter for this

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