spreading ballast

[Anonymous]

I'm slowly but surely getting my (first) N-scale layout completed, and was wondering what techniques others like to use for spreading ballast. I've laid my track on cork roadbed; the ballast spreader I've been using lays down a little more ballast than I like for my taste. Other than moving the spreader over the track a little quicker, any other technigues I could use for spreading my ballast?

[orsonroy]

When I lay ballast (Woodland Scenics) I just pour a little into the shaker top abd slowly shake it out over the rails and side of the roadbed. I get plenty of control over where the ballast goes this way, and have never bothered with a ballast spreader. After I've laid some ballast, I go over it with a soft, fairly large paintbru***o move the ballast into it's final shape, and to get stray ballast off the tops of the ties. Works like a charm.

[Anonymous]

Hello, I use a tea spoon and lay some down the center of the track, I then use a small soft paint brush and move it to cove the ties, I do the same on the outside of the track, I then wet it with water before i use the glue mix to hold it.

[Anonymous]

MLR Manufacturing has a ballast spreader that takes all the agony out of it.

http://www.internettrains.com/ho-scale-mlr-manufacturing-track-tools-ho-scale.html
http://www.internettrains.com/n-scale-mlr-manufacturing-mlr-track-tools-n-scale.html

Jay

[Anonymous]

I'm with pacificnorthern; I use a regular spoon (I keep a supply of plastic ones on hand for all my scenery work) along with a large supple brush - my brush is actually a makeup brush, like ones used for applying blush. I do tend to pile it up fairly thick, though, as I prefer it this way. You ought to be able to spread it as thick or as thin as you like though, with such manual tools.

[snowey]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NTDN

MLR Manufacturing has a ballast spreader that takes all the agony out of it.

http://www.internettrains.com/ho-scale-mlr-manufacturing-track-tools-ho-scale.html
http://www.internettrains.com/n-scale-mlr-manufacturing-mlr-track-tools-n-scale.html

Jay

some people haven't had god results using the MLR ballast spreader. I used it once for my HO layout, and didn't like it.

[Anonymous]

How do you guys recover ballast if you put too much on?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Train-Master

How do you guys recover ballast if you put too much on?

take a handy vac, put a lady's nylon over the end, vacuum up lost ballast and hold over can, turn vacuum off and watch the ballast fall into the can.

Jay

[Anonymous]

By "handy vac," do you mean a shop vac or a dust-buster? I use a dust-buster, but they don't have very much power. Thanks for the tip on the nylon though.