I will be reconditioning some old rusty O gauge track. When the track in soaked in vinegar the rust is dissolved along with the black paint on the track ties. The ties are bare metal subject to rust and just don't look right. Does anyone have a method to repaint the track ties? If I use spray paint, the paint would get on the track which I don't want. I thought about putting paint in a shallow flat cookie sheet and dipping the track tie in the paint, then touching up the top of the tie with a small flat artist brush. Any other ideas would be appreciated!
Hello & a belated Welcome to the Forum.
My fix for your dilemna is to use a jar or tube of petrolium jelly and cover the areas you don't want painted. When paint dries wipe off the vaseline. You might want to carefully wipe the track with alcohol to disolve any remnant vaseline.
I've used this trick after soaking track in agricultural vinegar.
Be sure to make sure your insulating paper survives.
l hope this helps....
Happy Rails
..
dave