Model Railway Forum

Sometime in the next month I hope to start laying track. I was wondering if it makes sense to paint the board to match the intended final ground cover first. It seems like that would be sensible to avoid having to paint up to the edges of the ballast at a later date with the risk of getting paint on the ballast. Or doesn't it matter? Or..does anyone ever bother with paint on the board at all?

I'm not thinking of actually painting the entire board. Just tracing track outline initially. Assuming it's even needed.

I did exactly that for my baseboard, I painted it grey under the track bed and green everywhere else. If the scenery demands a different more appropriate colour (when I get to that stage) I can repaint any redundant green areas as required.

Wherever possible I paint the board in advance - green/browny green for non-track areas and grey for track. As suggested above, it will be easier to touch up the areas that are 'wrong' than to paint visible sections later. It also gives a 'feel' to the whole layout or shunting area.

I just painted the whole board a greeny brown grey gungy colour made up of what ever emulsion I had.

I would paint the underside white as well, it helps seal it but also when working underneath the board it is much easier to see what you are doing against a white background.

Well that's a well timed question I've just put my paint brush down after painting my baseboard, or at least the bit round the track. Obviously I laid the track first. Don't think it makes much difference tbh.

Great. So now I have to work out the correct shade and type of paint to use. That's what I love about this hobby, every time you turn a corner there's something more to learn or decide

You can slosh the paint on the board if there is nothing on it.

I too painted my baseboard with whatever I had - grey all over. I didn’t use two colours as I couldn’t be sure what was going exactly where so I just splashed it all over.

I just mixed the colours together.