Ballasting and painting track

[rrinker]

For the rails, I use a 1/4" wide angled brush. Various craft paint browns and umbers, squeeze out some of each on a small board, then dip the brush in random colors, that way there is a bit of variance along the way. Also, I know from the start that it will take two coats, if not more. I'm with docWayne, I find it rather relaxing, turn on the radio, and just chill out. I also handpaint every tie, using the same process, except various grays, then a black wash on each tie. It can actually be fun, just have to get your mind right, knowing that the entire layout will take some time, but the end result will be worth it.

As for spraying, for some unknown reason, I told myself that I didn't need an airbrush, and I am sticking to it.

Do you do the black wash on the whole thing or just the ties? The ballast as-is looks sort of too 'new' particualrly on sidings - I'm wondering if a dilute black wash over the whole thing would tone down the ballast a bit as well. Also what sort of wash? I would think the india ink/denatured alcohol type would probbaly unstick all the ballast, what about some black craft paint thinned with rubbing alcohol?

--Randy