Hi guys
Thanks for your thoughts the pictures where particularly of value
as was the recepie for some goop that may just get the effect I am after.
I might try adding a little sand to the mix and see what happens.
I have some old track I can play with.
regards John
What works for me is balasting as normal and then adding my zip texturing mix that I use for basic raw earth everywhere. Tried mixing in with the ballast but that did not work. Now if you want all dirt you could just use the zip texturing mix which is plaster mixed with tempra paint dry paint pigments.
Geared Steam,
Thanks for some excellent photos, I'll be saving them in my archives. It is felt that they demonstrate what the OP is looking for and they will be an excellent help for what he is looking for,
Wayne
Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.
And in certain areas, they simply built on trestles instead of grading.
and dirt
+
This area has already been logged and the rails pulled up.
I use dirt ballast from various vendors.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
I have replicated "ballast" of mud and cinders using finely sifted fireplace ash. I wrote up the method in my Frugal Modeler column in the NMRA Midwest Region Waybill:
http://www.mwr-nmra.org/region/waybill/waybill20103fall.pdf
Some of those logging lines laid their track on the ground in such a way that the entire tie was exposed, according to some photos I have seen. Over time I suppose the area between the ties would become filled with debris. To capture that look a very small amount of the "mud" would be used, just enough to cover whatever cork or other product was used as roadbed. Lumber lines tended to be very lightly constructed because the tracks would be pulled up when the area was logged out.
Dave Nelson
I've used Woodland Scenics "Dirt" (or Earth?) as ballast on a few sidings. Put down a layer of white glue, sprinkle on the 'dirt' (after shaking the container very well) followed by spraying a diluted white glue on top of the dirt. While all of this is still wet, lay the ties/rail allowing the ties to settle into the dirt---sort of work the ties into the dirt so it doesn't appear that the ties were just placed on top. After everything has dried I'd then go through and rough up the ties with a small metal brush.
I also extended this dirt/earth a few inches on either side of the track to blend in with the rest of the scenery.
Hi all
Have just been reading about local wood lines
The track on one is described as layed on the ground with little or no ballast.
(For the local wood lines ballast translates as the surrounding dirt not as we would normaly interprit ballast)
I take this to mean it is just layed and leveled with not much else done.
How would you go about modeling this I would like a bit more than the scenery being interupted by a strip of earth tone paint with track sitting on it that would spoil the whole effect.
I am thinking of this for the narrow gauge line in the planning stages the new Minitrains track has kicked things into movement again