Hi Dan. Just a thought if you had painted neat glue to the sides of your foam track bed the ballast would have stuck and once dry vacuum up the excess. Still it's all a learning curve for us all.
You could take a look at James’s contraption for your next ballast project. Take a look at Bexhill West, you’ll be amazed. Also, for a next one, set the sides of your foam in a coat of glue first and a thin layer of ballast to give the foam a more coarse surface. If it’s not covered enough yet, you’ll be able to much more easily create the profile of the ballasted track.
...yea know where you're coming from, ballast seems to be a complex subject, guess what I use: I literally lay the track directly onto a 'grass' mat held with a few pins then cut open old teabags & spread the tea in very small amounts in the middle of the track then fix in place with black coffee, sets like concrete! plus perfect track color, being minimalistic you also get a 3D effect on the sleepers...I know I'm mad but it works.!
We have all been there. I feel your pain. I think the height of the foam underlay was your undoing but well recovered. I like the addition of colouring to the ballast and addition of weeds etc.
Better to buy KATO track. The points are also ready ballasted and have inbuilt motors. I tried PECO but it is not worth all of the effort and the electrical contact is terrible on points. Never had any problems since I went over to KATO on both N and OO scale. Kato is compatible with other code 83 track.
Very interesting fight of yours. Indeed, every model layout builder will have to find his own way of ballasting, which includes a process of learning by doing and by making mistakes. I like the way you have coped with the problems. All the best from Germany! - Valentin -
I just made it easier for me and invested in Kato Uni-track. The roadbed is already molded in and looks good as is. However all i did to make it look better was lightly use Tamiya (black) "Panel line accent color" on the gravel portions of the uni track to fill in and give it a slight shading to the road bed. It's super watery and runs loose, so i did it sparingly ,so i didn't fill in too much. after that i dabbed it with a paper towel to soak up any excess paint.
I used a small plastic condiment cup, to sprinkle out the ballast. WAY easier than using hands or the gimmicky "ballaster" gizmo. Started with short sections in the center...brushed out. Then down one side, then the other. I use a large brush to "shape" areas that need it...spray alcohol with a fine spray squirt bottle...glue.
Ballast is easy it's the form causing you problems and I would imagine you had to use a lot more PVA. Use cork and it will make things a lot easier. Also put a few drops of washing up liquid in your PVA/water mix
It took me many, many hours to ballast my layout, which is much larger than yours. Since I am working with A.C. Gilbert made American Flyer track, I also had to add 28 ties in each 10 inch section of track.
That's exactly why I switched to using Kato track some years ago. No more ballasting for me! It never looked any good anyway. Kato just saves all the bother. And it's dead easy to change it around when the mood takes me.
use alcohol instead of water to wet the ballast before glue. I also use cork road bed not the foam. The best youtuber for scenery videos is luke towan.
To bad no one ever showed you how to ballast. I paint glue (full strength) on the outside of the road bed (what ever kind you want to use) pack it with ballast and let it dry. This will give you the ballast in the shape of the road bed. Then I brush the excess from the outside onto the track middle and vibrate it in with a wooden hammer. Then I take the excess off and glue the rest down. Simple and very effective.
Awesome Dan! Yes, ballasting can be a real challenge! Just what did you use for ballast? A close-up you showed where the track wiring is being hidden by ballast looks like the material is little flakes of something. Real ballast is more like coarse crushed rock, so that all those stones together sort of "lock" together in the real world.
Foam underlay is for masochists.. I used Gauge master ballast paper and ballasted on top of that. Looks great and easy to remove track should you wish to make any changes at later date.😉
I used Kato Ballast, it was the right size and constantly. BUT I have come to the conclusion that for me personally N-scale is to small for some things, ballast is one of those things for me. Thats just me though, there are a lot of great comments here that may make it much easier for you. My ballast looks fine but it was lots of work for sure.
First mistake wrong size ballast. Second mistake not using isopropyl alcohol 99% with a spray bottle 3rd mistake not using eye dropper or spray bottle for glue those are the most common mistakes people make when ballasting and a big 4th mistake you cannot get ballasting done in one shot dont give up on it . It takes time to achieve great results
It looks like you rushed mate. There are a few different techniques your skipping. I hate ballasting too because I’m Impatient. Haha. Sprinkling a spoon full of sugar makes the Medicine go down! Haha. Slowly and use a magnet on the bristles of your brush!
Yes, I think that when I did a practice section away from the layout, it lured me into a misplaced confidence. If my practice stretch had been longer then I would have probably realised I was walking into a blunder!
@@SortOfInterestingTrains I have been mislead too my man haha!! God it sucks when you think you have it figured out and then you apply it on your layout and it doesn't turn out as expected. I guess thats why its a hobby huh lol! Anyways. Keep on pushing. the more you do it the better you will get. This is really an artistic hobby and art dont happen over night! Cheers!
Hi Dan. Just a thought if you had painted neat glue to the sides of your foam track bed the ballast would have stuck and once dry vacuum up the excess. Still it's all a learning curve for us all.
You could take a look at James’s contraption for your next ballast project. Take a look at Bexhill West, you’ll be amazed. Also, for a next one, set the sides of your foam in a coat of glue first and a thin layer of ballast to give the foam a more coarse surface. If it’s not covered enough yet, you’ll be able to much more easily create the profile of the ballasted track.
...yea know where you're coming from, ballast seems to be a complex subject, guess what I use: I literally lay the track directly onto a 'grass' mat held with a few pins then cut open old teabags & spread the tea in very small amounts in the middle of the track then fix in place with black coffee, sets like concrete! plus perfect track color, being minimalistic you also get a 3D effect on the sleepers...I know I'm mad but it works.!
Nice looking layout so far! Hobbies are a lot of fun despite the odd setback. It's very satisfying to see the results of one's creative endeavors.
Thanks, yes seeing things come together is incredibly satisfying and then acts as a drive to do even more!
We have all been there. I feel your pain. I think the height of the foam underlay was your undoing but well recovered. I like the addition of colouring to the ballast and addition of weeds etc.
Better to buy KATO track. The points are also ready ballasted and have inbuilt motors. I tried PECO but it is not worth all of the effort and the electrical contact is terrible on points. Never had any problems since I went over to KATO on both N and OO scale. Kato is compatible with other code 83 track.
Looking great Dan! Hard work always pays off in the end... even if it's tedious and fiddly at the time haha.
Very interesting fight of yours. Indeed, every model layout builder will have to find his own way of ballasting, which includes a process of learning by doing and by making mistakes. I like the way you have coped with the problems. All the best from Germany! - Valentin -
I just made it easier for me and invested in Kato Uni-track. The roadbed is already molded in and looks good as is. However all i did to make it look better was lightly use Tamiya (black) "Panel line accent color" on the gravel portions of the uni track to fill in and give it a slight shading to the road bed. It's super watery and runs loose, so i did it sparingly ,so i didn't fill in too much. after that i dabbed it with a paper towel to soak up any excess paint.
I used a small plastic condiment cup, to sprinkle out the ballast. WAY easier than using hands or the gimmicky "ballaster" gizmo.
Started with short sections in the center...brushed out. Then down one side, then the other. I use a large brush to "shape" areas that need it...spray alcohol with a fine spray squirt bottle...glue.
Looking great! Looks like a tricky job putting down that ballast!
I'm with you 100 percent mate, I hated ballasting but once it's done it makes all the difference.
Ballast is easy it's the form causing you problems and I would imagine you had to use a lot more PVA.
Use cork and it will make things a lot easier. Also put a few drops of washing up liquid in your PVA/water mix
It took me many, many hours to ballast my layout, which is much larger than yours. Since I am working with A.C. Gilbert made American Flyer track, I also had to add 28 ties in each 10 inch section of track.
That's exactly why I switched to using Kato track some years ago. No more ballasting for me! It never looked any good anyway. Kato just saves all the bother. And it's dead easy to change it around when the mood takes me.
You have more patience than I, great job its looking great.
This looks absolutely wonderful Dan!
Thanks!
use alcohol instead of water to wet the ballast before glue. I also use cork road bed not the foam. The best youtuber for scenery videos is luke towan.
That looks so good. Cant wait to see more
To bad no one ever showed you how to ballast. I paint glue (full strength) on the outside of the road bed (what ever kind you want to use) pack it with ballast and let it dry. This will give you the ballast in the shape of the road bed. Then I brush the excess from the outside onto the track middle and vibrate it in with a wooden hammer. Then I take the excess off and glue the rest down. Simple and very effective.
Lovely Jubbly matey, patience and time.
Kato unitrack is ready ballasted...just paint it ...looks great!
Awesome Dan! Yes, ballasting can be a real challenge! Just what did you use for ballast? A close-up you showed where the track wiring is being hidden by ballast looks like the material is little flakes of something. Real ballast is more like coarse crushed rock, so that all those stones together sort of "lock" together in the real world.
This was very very fine bits of grit. The fine grain and the steep foam underlay were a terrible mixture!
That's why I've used Kato Unitrack for the past 30 years.
underlay was originally designed so you did not have to ballast as the track should sink into iy slightly and keeps your layout neat .
It looks great.
Thanks!
Looking good keep up the good work on the layout thanks lee
Foam underlay is for masochists.. I used Gauge master ballast paper and ballasted on top of that. Looks great and easy to remove track should you wish to make any changes at later date.😉
I used Kato Ballast, it was the right size and constantly. BUT I have come to the conclusion that for me personally N-scale is to small for some things, ballast is one of those things for me. Thats just me though, there are a lot of great comments here that may make it much easier for you. My ballast looks fine but it was lots of work for sure.
First mistake wrong size ballast. Second mistake not using isopropyl alcohol 99% with a spray bottle 3rd mistake not using eye dropper or spray bottle for glue those are the most common mistakes people make when ballasting and a big 4th mistake you cannot get ballasting done in one shot dont give up on it . It takes time to achieve great results
Enjoyed the video very much and thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much for replying to my comment. It's nice to see other people's work to get idea to improve my Channel. Take Care & Stay Safe.
Looks like you are making good progress. Ballast looks good to me. Regards Paul.
Looking wonderful as ever you should do a story on it nice work dan
well done, it looks good to me.
Looks great Dan. Even with the bushes around the ballast it still looks pretty good.
I've never Ballasted any of my Track. Never will. When you have a Problem and need to take up the Track or Replace them you have a Mess.
Yes, that is a concern, I'm hoping my simple oval will limit any future trouble!
Looks great Dan, I have never ballasted.
I really think foam underlay is the worst. Cork works so much better.
This is a lovely video far from the madding crowd.
This is kinda a funny but different ballasting conundrum - I'm using KATO track! 😄....I kinda don't want to spoil my lovely neat KATO Unitrack! 😉
Knew you were worrying over nothing. Looks great.
Nightmare isn't it!? I wrecked my first track layout with ballasting. Second go I ballasted first (on cork) then laid the track on top.
Ballast is a major pain but always worth it in the end :) yours looks great!
should have bought the Fleischamnn track.
My advice to you is watch a UA-camr named wickfield lane his method of ballasting is jaw dropping
WNice one Dan looking good 🚂🦢🙂✌️
What scale was the dog?
I would like to say, possibly OO or O 😂
Ballasting is not easy just spent two hours doing it and that was only 2 metres! Richard Courtney Adelaide south Australia 🇦🇺
It looks like you rushed mate. There are a few different techniques your skipping. I hate ballasting too because I’m Impatient. Haha. Sprinkling a spoon full of sugar makes the Medicine go down! Haha. Slowly and use a magnet on the bristles of your brush!
Yes, I think that when I did a practice section away from the layout, it lured me into a misplaced confidence. If my practice stretch had been longer then I would have probably realised I was walking into a blunder!
@@SortOfInterestingTrains I have been mislead too my man haha!! God it sucks when you think you have it figured out and then you apply it on your layout and it doesn't turn out as expected. I guess thats why its a hobby huh lol! Anyways. Keep on pushing. the more you do it the better you will get. This is really an artistic hobby and art dont happen over night! Cheers!
🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂