I did some ballasting. This was almost a complete disaster, but it looks okayish now that it has dried. I'll still have to remove some of the excess ballast from around the ties though. How do you guys mist the track? My misting bottle produces drops that are much too big. Also, looking at this, I think I'm going to use more prototypical track for the next layout rather than the Peco code 80. I only use the latter because it is the easiest to get hold of around here.
I use an atomizer hairspray bottle (once my wife used up all the hairspray) to wet the ballast or dirt with water with a few drops of isopropyl alcohol. Then I use a pipette or eye dropper to apply white glue watered down to about 60% water 40% glue. I have had great luck with this method. Nothing ever shifts or moves on me and it turns out rock solid. Great work on your layout by the way! Very impressed with how fast your scenery has developed. I love your red sandstone rock outcroppings. They match New Mexico perfectly. I also like the simple layout design. Got to love watching trains work their way through beautiful scenery! I just recently started my own layout not unlike yours with a focus on scenery. Williams Loop/South Draw Layout I believe in letting the scenery make the railroad not the other way around. Can't wait to see more progress!
I don't mist, I apply the alcohol and the WS scenic cement with a pipette. It works great and I don't have to worry about the ballast moving.
I used to have the same problem - then I got hold of one of those travel-size bottles of hair spray - dumped the spray and used water plus alcohol and a drop of dish soap. Beautiful mist. Those little bottles will also handle dilute matte medium - makes it REALLY easy to lay grass or whatever. Suggest you try Micro Engineering code 55. Made in US, available at several mega dealers, and pizza cutters will work. Use Atlas for the switches...
I don't mist at all, I just apply my water/glue mix with a big syringe down the track center, it soaks in and makes it's way into all the ballast..
Yeah, this is the way I have started to do it. Though I had very little left to do when I discovered this method. Grant, keeps getting better.:thumbs_up:
If you try the dishsoap in the water / glue be sure to use basic soap without the moisturizers and such! It will flow better that way. i've never tried the syringe or pipette method, but it sound interesting and would enjoy seeing your results if you try that too. BTW - it is looking good!
I have most of the track work finished now, and I have the joins between the modules cleaned up. I also rearranged it in the garage, which is quite a cool thing you can can do with portable layouts. You get to see a different view of it, and it almost looks like a different layout. More pictures to come on the weekend.
Thanks guys. Spent a lot of time adding grass and bushes. I just got this shot which I thought was quite atmospheric.
Grant, What a wonderful project: excellent planning, top-notch construction, really great scenery, and a truly artistic presentation. Thanks for sharing it.
Scenery looks good Grant. I also used the Peco code 80 as years ago it was the best track available in my opinion. If it is used throughout the layout it will look OK.
I usually apply ballast initially with a small plastic cup. The type found atop cough medicine bottles, for measuring dosage. I also have a tiny plastic spoon which I found somewhere, years ago. Final additions if needed, then I use fingers or that little spoon.