Ballasting track w/o roadbed on a WS incline/riser system.

[Mailman56701]

I want to lay some track directly on a grade using the WS incline/riser system.  The problem is  ballasting, since the ballast will flow through the slots.  I intend to use plaster cloth on either side of the track and down the edge of the grade, but I am trying to avoid using it under the track and need some way of filling in or covering up enough of the slot to where it will hold the ballast between the ties.  Anyone ever run into something like this?

 

  Not sure why you don't want to also use plaster cloth, etc. under the track, etc.

   I used soaked paper towels to do just that in my previous layout; covered the entire incline/riser setup, made the side slopes, etc., and then ballasted the track w/o roadbed.

   Worked just fine (HO).

   Anyway, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

They make a fiberglass sheet rock (wallboard) tape that is slightly sticky on one side.  It is often used with "green" wallboard for damp areas (bathrooms).  This will solve the problem of holding the tape in place.  The roll that I have is 1 3/4" wide which is perfect for the WS system.  It is also somewhat flexible for gentle curves BUT it does have an open mesh so you need to compare the mesh openings with the size of your ballast.

[bearman]

Thanks, guys.  The sheet rock tape idea appears to be number one on the "to try" list.

[selector]

Foil tape, the kind one would use to wrap joints in clothes dryer piping.  It is quite sticky and won't deform when wet.  For that matter, even good old duct tape would work.

[loathar]

Styrene? Maybe sheet rock tape. That's made to get wet and have plaster stick to it.

[dragenrider]

A simple solution I have used is to slide trimmed 3 x 5 note cards under the track.  Cut the note card in half and simply slide it under the track.  The note card is tough enough to stand up to the glue and ballast weight. 

[bearman]

I want to lay some track directly on a grade using the WS incline/riser system.  The problem is  ballasting, since the ballast will flow through the slots.  I intend to use plaster cloth on either side of the track and down the edge of the grade, but I am trying to avoid using it under the track and need some way of filling in or covering up enough of the slot to where it will hold the ballast between the ties.  Anyone ever run into something like this?