[darainbow]

I notice most people who rout their own tracks paint it grey. But I think textured black track actually picks up surrounding light and gives it a "grey" look much like new asphalt. Ninco does this well as does carrera to a degree.

On routed tracks where there is no texture, black probably looks BLACK and is out of place.

Just an observation. Look at my track pictures to see what im talking about.

 

[Eno Dog]

I think a lot of guys - particularly from America where there are a bunch of concrete circuits go a little far. I'm actually enjoying my stuff - I have (unpainted) SCX & scaley stuff I've had since I was a tadpole. the "change of surface" looks great!

 

[bastumannen]

I went for black when I painted my first routed track too. I used normal blackboard paint there, but I might add a touch of grey next time, although I rather like the fresh look of new tarmac...

 

[tDI_Fahrer]

Mmm... the look and the smell of fresh black tarmac warming up in the sun!!!

I have also chosen not to paint my track, but more because i'm not a good painter. What I like about painted tracks is the darker areas where people have painted the skidmarks...

@ bastumannen:

This is the first time I saw pictures of that routed track of yours!
Very nice track man! And great pictures! Well done!

Greetz

Gunther

 

[BEEJAY7]

The only reason my new track will be grey rather than black, is because I have a lot of black cars and it is very difficult to see them properly against a black track background. Perhaps a dark grey might be a better choice?.

Regards

Alan

 

[Triggy]

Black to dark grey for me.

Looks more like a bitumen/tarmac track

 

[JohnP]

Grey is groovy!

I grew up with grey Airfix track which was later manufactured in black - spoiling it's appearance in my humble... The thing was the conductor rails stood out like sore thumbs

against the black track whereas before they had looked more neutral set against the grey.

Secondly, as you run on the grey you get a build up of black rubber making the track look less homogeneous and, more importantly, cool! You don't really see that effect on black tracks.

But what the heck, black track is groovy too. Vive la Difference!

 

[sacesta]

QUOTE What I like about painted tracks is the darker areas where people have painted the skidmarks...

I agree with Gunther. The skid marks on a grey track look cool. That said, my own track is an unpainted Ninco track and the black really does look more like fresh asphalt. Maybe there's some way to change the texture of the track to reproduce skid marks? May only be noticeable at certain viewing angles.

Steve

 

[astro]

I have black standard scalex track at the moment. I do like the look of it, but black carts - which look fabulous in the shop - look indistinct and yuk on the track. Also, most of the 1:1 race courses I have seen have grey tarmac rather than black.

But I am not about to paint the track - sounds like an epic and arduous task

 

[MAF]

Is SCX digital track going to be grey in the UK as per this post.

MAF

 

[darainbow]

QUOTE (Eno Dog @ 24 Nov 2004, 08:11)I think a lot of guys - particularly from America where there are a bunch of concrete circuits go a little far. I'm actually enjoying my stuff - I have (unpainted) SCX & scaley stuff I've had since I was a tadpole. the "change of surface" looks great!
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree, especially because CONCRETE is not GREY, it is more TAN or SAND color.

The only roads that look "grey" are older asphalt, but its not a light bluish-grey like many people use in thier paint, its a washed out black.

I think the blackboard paint is pretty close.

 

[jhardy33]

I like the look of some of the painted tracks. But I think the best may be the "Portugal in a Playroom", the 1.67 scale miles post. They intially painted it grey and then went back over it with light coats of black and it has a realistic look to it. I have a Ninco track and when the light hits it right it shines just a bit much for my taste. One of these days I'll paint it.

Jay

 

[darainbow]

QUOTE (jhardy33 @ 24 Nov 2004, 19:11)I like the look of some of the painted tracks. But I think the best may be the "Portugal in a Playroom", the 1.67 scale miles post. They intially painted it grey and then went back over it with light coats of black and it has a realistic look to it. I have a Ninco track and when the light hits it right it shines just a bit much for my taste. One of these days I'll paint it.

Jay
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Its too bad, the track looks wonderful but the matchbox ambulance and F1 cars look terrible.

 

[RMMseven]

I'm a "track painter" (I remembering a Seinfeld episode and one of the guys is a sports fanatic "face painter"). I painted my track a medium to dark grey and I should have used a bit lighter shade. I think it is easier to see my cars especially the dark colors, blue and black, are much more appealing on the lighter colored track. But if someone likes their track black, with or without white center stripes, that's OK too!

 

[Eno Dog]

I have been thinking about this (scary really) and I think I might use either dry paing or grey chalk dust & run it for a while (on the black) & then figure out if I need to do anything. That may be simple..

 

[Triggy]

[
I agree, especially because CONCRETE is not GREY, it is more TAN or SAND color.

The only roads that look "grey" are older asphalt, but its not a light bluish-grey like many people use in thier paint, its a washed out black.

I think the blackboard paint is pretty close.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
[/quote]
I,m with you darainbow!

you summed it up nicely!!

 

[Larsson]

As some of you may recall, I painted my track grey some time ago. Unfurtunually that did not turned out as I wanted, most likely due to poor planning. And I thought that all the track pieces were ruined. Luckily I manage to save them and restoring them into there former glory. But cleaning them were a daunting task...to say the least. It took me about 3 days to clean them all.

One of the mistakes I think I did was to add to much paint when adding the first layer. By doing so the paint refused to stick to the track surface and it fell off when I started to reassemble the track. I used a spray can when painting in the belief that I would obtain a smooth and even layer of paint, maybe that would have worked out just great had I not added so "much" paint.

Maybe I am a bit off topic here...nevertheless I just wanted to share my experience in how to not do when painting ones track. So that no one repeats my sloppy mistake. However the track looked very nice in grey, still I will "never" try it again. Need some respite from it all, so therefore my track stays&#8230;"painted black".

Eric