What I do on like an industry spur or yard track is raise up the building with 1/4" Woodland Scenic foam sheet, right up to the edge of the Unitrack ballast strip. Then I use gray mix ballast to fill in the sloping area to make it level.
mbinsewi The link to his picture, doesn't look like Unitrack, must be buried with the ballast, and the other stone. Mike.
The link to his picture, doesn't look like Unitrack, must be buried with the ballast, and the other stone.
Mike.
Your right. I was a little heavy on the ballast there as I was trying trying to hide the track's slope on the siding.
Yes that's Unitrack, you can tell by the track joiners.
One thing I like to do is paint some of the ties dark brown or dark gray to add a little variation to the black ties. I also "paint" the sides of the rails with Neo-Lube from the Micro-Mark catalogue, which leaves the rail sides a dull almost-black gray.
My You Tube
SeeYou190 I do not understand the question. Unitrack is already ballasted. -Kevin
I do not understand the question.
Unitrack is already ballasted.
-Kevin
Molded in ballast, just like molded coal loads, simply doesn't look as good or realistic a separately applied ballast (or coal). Of course YMMV.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
You could find a textured paint that is the color you want your ballast, paint it on, no mess when moving your track. Ties could be left gray and given a wash to make them less uniform in color.
Have fun,
Richard
Here are the first results. I'm starting with the sidings and will be moving in the mainline.
https://ibb.co/54vWXfk
In the steam era, ballast was usually laid on a layer of cinders that was usually a couple of feet wider than the ballast. You could possibly do something like that, but black ballast along the sides representing cinders. Then you wouldn't have to worry about matching the Kato ballast color and size.
Put a thin layer of Saran Wrap under the track before ballasting. When you lift the track again, the Saran Wrap is easy to pull off, leaving the ballast intact.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I have always thought it looked OK with other scenery cover just up to the Untrack integrated ballast.
Living the dream.
I use the Unitrack brand ballast along the edge of the plastic so it doesn't look so staight. I hold it down with a white glue solution. Fianally I apply an india ink solution to make ut all look more weathered. It holds the track and if you want to remove it just soak with alcohol and use a scrapper.
CN Charlie
Yes. While I don't mind the look of the unitrack ballast I want to make it look more natural on the edges.
I assume we're talking about adding ballast on the sides of the Unitrack ballast strip? The Unitrack ties only stick up like 1/16" above the ballast it comes with, if you add ballast on top it would cover the ties completely.
RailEagle BATMAN I am not sure what your asking, but, if it is what I think you are asking you can paint on white glue, sprinkle the ballast over it and dump off what doesn't stick. Repeat as necessary. If this is not what you are looking for please disregard. Yep that's it. Thanks for the advice.
BATMAN I am not sure what your asking, but, if it is what I think you are asking you can paint on white glue, sprinkle the ballast over it and dump off what doesn't stick. Repeat as necessary. If this is not what you are looking for please disregard.
I am not sure what your asking, but, if it is what I think you are asking you can paint on white glue, sprinkle the ballast over it and dump off what doesn't stick. Repeat as necessary. If this is not what you are looking for please disregard.
Yep that's it. Thanks for the advice.
You're very welcome.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Get the impression this is not a permanent undertaking. May I suggest kitty litter. There are many sizes and shades. Find one suitable and buy several containers for future use , change, or repair. I use it on my layout consisting of cork roadbed and brass track. Majority of it has been laying there for 30 years. Had no problems and makes changes simple. It's cost effective and does the job for me. Layout has 1000' of track and 100 turnouts. Have fun!
Not sure if this helps, but I only attach the Unitrack on curves, using hot glue on the inside curve of each section so I can shim the outside to superelate it. Then I use Woodland Scenic ballast, I think it's called "fine mixed gray" or something like that, along the sides of the Unitrack to hide the joint and make the ballast less 'perfect', then seal with matte medium or white glue like you'd normally use on ballast. If you then add a wash of like diluted black paint or India Ink (I use white because my layout is set in early winter) it seems to blend together pretty well.
I have never done it myself but ---
Here in the UK some people use long pins to tie the track down. Then ballast, removing the pins afterwards.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Also any ballast recommendations besides the one made by Kato?