MonkeyBucket Nice switcher mate...Plenty of detail on that... I'm a bit of a ballast virgin at the moment so I am just going to tune into what you got going here for ideas. Cheers for the good ideas peeps.
Nice switcher mate...Plenty of detail on that...
I'm a bit of a ballast virgin at the moment so I am just going to tune into what you got going here for ideas.
Cheers for the good ideas peeps.
I agree, lots of good ideas. Thanks for the comments on the switcher. That is out of box details. My first try at posting a picture on the forum.
I did get an idea from the current issue of MR on building big industry. He used powdered modeling clay that air dried to fill the bin before adding scale ballast. The clay he used was white.
Was wondering if that came in different colors to use as track ballast. My only concern is that it might be too fine. I do have a bunch of powdered paint pigments I could use to color the white clay but it might be too smooth when it dries. Looking like clay and not real ballast.
I have a reason to spend the day at the hobby store today. Like I need one! lol
Pat Bandy
Cheers...
Chris from down under...
We're all here because we're not all there...
90% rubbing alcohol will work wonders. Just pour it on and wait for a few minutes.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
No roadbed. Laid track on flat black paper. I'm on disability and the finance dept issued a moratorium on additional expenditures. Even after my powerpoint presentation. lol Retirement will come soon and so will a budget for track maintenance.
I suppose you could just paint roadbed if its cork grey and it would kind of look like Bachmann EZ track. Not the ideal look IMHO but it would do especially if you think you are going to tear it out at some point and dont want the mess.
Joe Staten Island West
Lol good response life based!
Ignatosky wjstix If you had asked before you started building it, I would have suggested using Kato Unitrack. Ballast already there, great track for temporary / semi-permanent layouts where you don't have things nailed or glued down. But for what you have now, you probably could do ballast and secure it with diluted white glue or matte medium... I used diluted white glue on the ballast on my layout 35 years ago... Off to do some ballast shopping.
wjstix If you had asked before you started building it, I would have suggested using Kato Unitrack. Ballast already there, great track for temporary / semi-permanent layouts where you don't have things nailed or glued down. But for what you have now, you probably could do ballast and secure it with diluted white glue or matte medium...
If you had asked before you started building it, I would have suggested using Kato Unitrack. Ballast already there, great track for temporary / semi-permanent layouts where you don't have things nailed or glued down.
But for what you have now, you probably could do ballast and secure it with diluted white glue or matte medium...
I used diluted white glue on the ballast on my layout 35 years ago...
Off to do some ballast shopping.
I found Krylon foam safe fine grain pebble texture spray paint at Hobby Lobby. I'm going to experiment with that for "spray-on" roadbed ballast on my temporary shelfie.
I've had good results painting on dilute white glue and sprinkling on Lake Michigan beach sand. Ultra cheap!
The ties aren't buried but I can live with that for now. I've had no problems with "magnetic particles" or anything like that.
wjstix If you had asked before you started building it, I would have suggested using Kato Unitrack. Ballast already there, great track for temporary / semi-permanent layouts where you don't have things nailed or glued down. But for what you have now, you probably could do ballast and secure it with diluted white glue or matte medium. Both are water soluble, so in the future if you need to remove the track, just soaking the area with water will loosen things up.
But for what you have now, you probably could do ballast and secure it with diluted white glue or matte medium. Both are water soluble, so in the future if you need to remove the track, just soaking the area with water will loosen things up.
I used diluted white glue on the ballast on my layout 35 years ago. Didn't know I could soak it with water to remove the track. That is a fantastic idea! Thank you so much!
BroadwayLion You are going to tase over youyr daughters room? Unless you have a spare guest room, I'd make that into a guest room. Daughters (and sons) have a habbit of coming back again. Often with Sig Os, pets and maybe even brats. ROAR
You are going to tase over youyr daughters room? Unless you have a spare guest room, I'd make that into a guest room. Daughters (and sons) have a habbit of coming back again. Often with Sig Os, pets and maybe even brats.
ROAR
Well, she is going to Itlay for a year to study in September. I will leave her bed and such in there. I will move the switching layout in there on one wall and slowly expand it.
She's okay with it as long as she has a place to sleep.
:)
IgnatoskyAny thoughts?
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I recently built a 2' x10' DC switching layout out of drip edging and styrofoam using my 35 year old equipment. It is temporary and removeable from my work bench. My daughter will be leaving for college in the fall and I plan on moving it to her bedroom and include it in a larger layout.
The whole "mantra" of this shelf layout was no money being spent on it and keeping everything removable. I had a 12' x 12' layout 35 years ago and saved all the equipment, track and buildings. I've spent the last two months cleaning locos, laying track and reglueing all the buildings that have fallen apart over the years. I am extremely happy with results and broke the rule on spending money buying a new SW1500 switcher.
I spray painted 2' x10' sheet of paper flat black and laid it on the styrofoam and laid the track on that. Used small track spikes where needed and glued down only two or three areas. Being on paper, those areas are still removable.
I need an idea on how to fill the area around the track and ties since I will not be ballasting the track at this time. I don't think loose ballast would work and be messy. Thinking of use sheets of cardboard if I can find the right thickness. Has to be as thick as the ties or rail high. It would work except for in between the ties and track and would involve a LOT of cutting.
Is there a way to ballast track and still make it removable? Seems loose ballast would just end up getting everywhere.
Any thoughts?