Dear Andy, excellent vid that you’ve put together on ballasting around the throw bar of a turnout. Love the way you already mix up the different colors and still take the airbrush out to even further put your own signature on the scene. Yes indeed, ballasting is meditative, and therefore why is there the urge to rush it? Guess that’s why a lot of modelers have a kind of threshold towards ballasting. Maybe for not wanting to ffff up their immaculate tracks, or simply because it’s not their thing. Nevertheless, making it a meditative experience helps to overcome that threshold. And as I, my humble self, watch your vid, that’s the main message I take away from your content. By the way, through James from Bexhill West I purchased his ballast vacuum system. Works a breeze for those sections that need a quicker hand. Looking forward to seeing your next videos. Cheerio
@@AndyDorsch It's obvious that a ballast job (at least a nice one) is not over after applying the ballast and setting it in place. There's more to do to make it more realistic. You're doing great in that sens. Thanks for sharing with us.
Great video Andy! I'm glad you also decided to use a darker ballast. This is I always preferred darker ballast; (it was bothering me that too many American model train layouts, utilize a garish , Brite white, or light gray, overwhelming ballast). Thanks again for showing, some good ideas, including doing small sections at a time. Excellent presentation! Thanks again.
Yeah...bright ballast...yuck. I used pictures of railroads in our area to get that "feel" for the color. Most ever railroad around here uses a darker ballast due to the geology of the area.
@@AndyDorsch Yes Andy; In fact I would go as far as to say that the majority of layouts shown in model railroad magazines, depict ballast that's far to, Bright white, or grey.
Oh goodie, we now have 103,001 youtube videos on how to ballast model railroad track! 😂 Anyway, nice job on explaining and showing your method. I use a 1" foam brush to spread the ballast, isopropyl alcohol to saturate and 60/40 solution of elmer's glue to adhere. Like you said, there are thousands of ways to do this, people just need to figure out what works for them. As you demonstrated, making sure the moving parts still move once completed is critical. Looking forward to the weathering and adding details. Thanks, Terry
@@AndyDorsch Yes Sir, I plan on being there. Just a little less than a month away and most of the hotels are booked/no vacancy. It's either going to have a huge attendance or there's something else going on in the area. Terry
One little thing I discovered thats super useful. Either a small styrene tube or an old school coffee stir straw. Its a lot easier to blow out the throw rod space with a quick puff through the straw than trying to brush it out.
Andy, the ballast job looks great. One tip, I go back every hour after I apply the glue for the ballast and move the switch points just to make sure they don't get stuck as the glue dries. -Tom
Nice video Andy. I like your recommendation to take ballasting in small sections. Stay focused, get it to your liking before moving on.very helpful in building skills and making corrections if needed.
Great video. Would love to know how you did the mechanisms for the rotating Milwaukee targets on the switch stands. I’m about to lay my first proto 48 turnout and want that.
Check out the video where I talk about the basics of laying track for your model railroad: ua-cam.com/video/KEur2zWkB6Y/v-deo.html
Dear Andy, excellent vid that you’ve put together on ballasting around the throw bar of a turnout. Love the way you already mix up the different colors and still take the airbrush out to even further put your own signature on the scene. Yes indeed, ballasting is meditative, and therefore why is there the urge to rush it? Guess that’s why a lot of modelers have a kind of threshold towards ballasting. Maybe for not wanting to ffff up their immaculate tracks, or simply because it’s not their thing. Nevertheless, making it a meditative experience helps to overcome that threshold. And as I, my humble self, watch your vid, that’s the main message I take away from your content.
By the way, through James from Bexhill West I purchased his ballast vacuum system. Works a breeze for those sections that need a quicker hand. Looking forward to seeing your next videos. Cheerio
Like your ground throw targets !
Thank you! I got them from Lines West. I made the "throw" mechanism myself.
@@AndyDorsch It's obvious that a ballast job (at least a nice one) is not over after applying the ballast and setting it in place. There's more to do to make it more realistic. You're doing great in that sens. Thanks for sharing with us.
Great video Andy!
I'm glad you also decided to use a darker ballast.
This is I always preferred darker ballast; (it was bothering me that too many American model train layouts, utilize a garish , Brite white, or light gray, overwhelming ballast).
Thanks again for showing, some good ideas, including doing small sections at a time.
Excellent presentation!
Thanks again.
Yeah...bright ballast...yuck. I used pictures of railroads in our area to get that "feel" for the color. Most ever railroad around here uses a darker ballast due to the geology of the area.
@@AndyDorsch Yes Andy;
In fact I would go as far as to say that the majority of layouts shown in model railroad magazines, depict ballast that's far to, Bright white, or grey.
Oh goodie, we now have 103,001 youtube videos on how to ballast model railroad track! 😂 Anyway, nice job on explaining and showing your method. I use a 1" foam brush to spread the ballast, isopropyl alcohol to saturate and 60/40 solution of elmer's glue to adhere. Like you said, there are thousands of ways to do this, people just need to figure out what works for them. As you demonstrated, making sure the moving parts still move once completed is critical. Looking forward to the weathering and adding details. Thanks, Terry
Hahaha! Yep...I've added mine to the fray! Hey, question for you, are you going to be at St. Louis RPM this year?
Take care! Andy
@@AndyDorsch Yes Sir, I plan on being there. Just a little less than a month away and most of the hotels are booked/no vacancy. It's either going to have a huge attendance or there's something else going on in the area. Terry
When you brought out the pick, I tensed up a bit because I thought of my dentist 😅
Yeah...your going to feel some "pressure..."
I hated working with WS ballast. Found Arizona Rock and Mineral and never looked back.
I love Arizona Rock and Mineral!!!
One little thing I discovered thats super useful. Either a small styrene tube or an old school coffee stir straw.
Its a lot easier to blow out the throw rod space with a quick puff through the straw than trying to brush it out.
That is a super useful tip! I'm going to try that on my next turnout ballasting effort!!!
Absolutely excellent work and video you did Andy !! 👍👍👍 . I always learn from you 😊
Glad you enjoyed it!
Andy, the ballast job looks great. One tip, I go back every hour after I apply the glue for the ballast and move the switch points just to make sure they don't get stuck as the glue dries. -Tom
Thats a pretty good tip. And thank you for the nice words regarding the ballast! I've had alot of great teachers (including you!) along the way!
Nice video Andy. I like your recommendation to take ballasting in small sections. Stay focused, get it to your liking before moving on.very helpful in building skills and making corrections if needed.
That advice comes from mistakes made trying to do it all at once! Thank you for watching.
Awesome Video .... Thank You!!!! 👍
Great video. Would love to know how you did the mechanisms for the rotating Milwaukee targets on the switch stands. I’m about to lay my first proto 48 turnout and want that.
I can put something together!!!
NIce job. I like the color blends. What switch stands do you use? Or are they scratch?
Thank you. The switch stands were 3D prints from "Lines West." They are very nice detail. The working mechanism was a bit of a scratch build.
Can the track be taken up and glue removed if needed?
Please tell me where you found your switch signals. I need them for my layout
Forgot ! Sorry. Is the Milwaukee SW1200 engine a Walthers unit ? Would you rate it good ? Thanks
It is a walthers proto! I love it. Smooth runner, very nice detail!
Thanks for answering. I will subscribe to the channel.