Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Non-risky method of ballasting turnouts

3672 views
13 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 16 posts
Non-risky method of ballasting turnouts
Posted by Andrey on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 2:25 PM

Hello. In video below I will show easy and non-risky method of ballasting turnouts. This method gives good results and is suitable for beginners and those modellers, who don't have large experience in ballasting. Ideal for ballasting complex turnouts (double slips and 3-way turnouts).

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 16 posts
Posted by Andrey on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 2:29 PM

Here you can see turnout from this video completely ballasted:

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 16 posts
Posted by Andrey on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 2:30 PM

Also, if you need to ballast double slip using this method of ballasting, I recommend to pour glue to the point, shown on image below. Glue will flow under sleepers in all directions, and and the majority of ballast under double slip may be saturated from this single point.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 2:44 PM

I just read this thread in another forum.  Glad you brought here too! 

Mike.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,864 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 4:12 PM

mbinsewi
I just read this thread in another forum. 

Me too.  Maybe posting in various forums to get views up.  The more views you get on youtube eventually may earn some $$

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 5:39 PM

riogrande5761
The more views you get on youtube eventually may earn some $$

True, I follow a guy (banned subject in this forum) that has 1.47 million subscribers and that is his full time job. 

Andrey has 2.  Don't quit your day job.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 10:53 PM

Well, it's certainly an imaginative solution, but it seems a bit extreme.

I've found that if you put some plastic-compatible oil on the ties over which the points move, then flick the points back and forth a few times to spread it around, you can then park the points at mid-throw (block them with a bit of styrene if necessary), then add the ballast (not too deep), spray with "wet" water then add the diluted glue with whatever applicator you'd normally use. 

Once the glue has hardened, remove the blocking and clean the rails.  The points should then move as easily as they have ever moved, unless there's some stray ballast in the way.

Not counting staging areas, which are not ballasted, I have about 50 turnouts ballasted using that method, with no difficulties moving the points after ballasting.

Wayne

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,584 posts
Posted by rrebell on Thursday, January 23, 2020 10:52 AM

I found a better solution. I paint with full strength white glue in the spaces next to the throw bar ties and put ballast in and compress. Once dry I valcum up the excess and then do the rest of the ballast my regular way which is put down ballast, shape, wet water, then matt medium solution.

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 16 posts
Posted by Andrey on Thursday, January 23, 2020 3:19 PM

mbinsewi

I just read this thread in another forum.  Glad you brought here too! 

Mike.

Hello, Mike. Thank you.

I just watched video on your channel about hand painted backdrops. Excellent job!

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 16 posts
Posted by Andrey on Thursday, January 23, 2020 3:26 PM

riogrande5761
Me too.  Maybe posting in various forums to get views up.  The more views you get on youtube eventually may earn some $$
 

No, I didn't post this video for money. It is difficult and time consuming to make this tutorials, especially if your English is not good. Since I made it, I wanted it was useful for somebody.
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, January 23, 2020 3:36 PM

Thank you Andrey. 

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,316 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Thursday, January 23, 2020 4:14 PM

Thanks for flagging this vid.  I'm adding it to my favorites to refer to later.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, January 23, 2020 9:00 PM

I liked the way you cut out the road bed below the throw bar.

You speak twice as many languages, fluently as I do.  The Brits call sleepers, what we in the US call them ties.   What you call masking tape we would call scotch tape in the US.   Masking tape is an opaque, tan colored tape that isn't used much for masking for painting purposes anymore. 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2020
  • 16 posts
Posted by Andrey on Saturday, January 25, 2020 9:44 AM

kasskaboose

Thanks for flagging this vid.  I'm adding it to my favorites to refer to later.

 

BigDaddy

I liked the way you cut out the road bed below the throw bar.

Hello. Thank you for answers, guys! It is important to me to know, that making this video was not useless. Good luck in ballasting whatever method you choose!

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!