I have mainly modeled N scale but have started working with Z Scale. I have searched but haven't found any information on how to weather Micro Trains Z scale turnouts. I'm used to spraying turnouts with a brown or dark color to paint the ties and then ballasting the turnout but I've never worked with a turnout with preinstalled roadbed.
On mine I pained the rails and did light ballast with full strength white glue very carefully on the sides only, I choose not to go between the ties to avoid issues with the mech. If you look at the bottoms you'll notice the mechanism slides on the bottom. If you get glue under it will seize up. I know I did it the first time and learned. fortunately 90% alcohol will loosen those type of mistakes and with cleaning it is usable. Weather and blend in scenery and they can look very good.
I do just the weathering of roadbed track: color the rails, use brown and black washes on the plastic roadbed, paint some personality to the ties and add an oil line between the rails. I don't like to do much ballasting because it's too easy to mess up the shape of the road bed.
