Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
I glued cardstock, equal in thickness to my AMI tacky roadbed and grey in color to match my ballast, to the underside of the ties in the "problem areas". I then ballast only up to the edge of this, so that right at the points and throwbar I have no ballast grains but the look of ties seated on top of ballast, just like the real thing. On the outside edge, I form a ballast shoulder against the edge of the cardboard, and carefully place a little bit of ballast around the ends of the ties. A side benefit of this method is that it gives me a solid surface under the points, which sits firmly against the subroadbed; ordinarily, the AMI roadbed lifts the track off the subroadbed by a variable amount, depending on how much pressure is applied when you set the track. The flat cardboard helps assure me that the switch is sitting level over the subroadbed. Also, it interrupts the AMI so there's no danger of that stuff getting into the mechanism. <br /> <br />I have mentioned this technique before, but that thread is long dead. BTW, I model in N-scale.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

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

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!