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How can I model fuel or oil stains on track?
Oil spills and evidence of oil leaks are a common feature of many railway tracks around engine depots and at the end of station platforms where locomotives have been stood idling, but how is it modelled?
Choosing a paint to represent oil spills is easy as there are many purpose-made modelling paints available to achieve exactly that effect, AK Interactive's Fresh Engine Oil being just one. However, if you prefer to use paints that you already have lying around, consider whether you want your oil stains to look fresh. If you do, use a gloss paint, if you don't, a flatter finish would be more appropriate.
Paint aside, the real secret to realistic oil spills is the use of a caking agent first. This can be anything fine and powdery, with some modellers having experienced decent results using household talcum powder while others prefer to use a really fine ballast. Once you have decided upon a substance to use, it should be applied and set on top of your original ballast in the usual way using a PVA/water mix with a drop of washing up liquid added.
The effect that the caking agent closely replicates is the gunky and congealed consistency that a real oil slick would exhibit, but be careful to use it conservatively, you can always add more if required.
Posted in: Tracks
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