Ballast ???s

[Anonymous]

I am modeling in HO, using cork roadbed on homasoat on plywood. When I put my ballast down wet it with "wet" water and soak with scenery glue/diluted white elmers glue the ballast glues together solidly but but doesnt adhere to the homasoat and I end with solid chunks of ballast that bubble up and peel away from the homasoat. What am I doing wrong?

[Anonymous]

Hi Ross, I've never had a problem such as yours with the ballast doing as you descibed. Make sure your white glue is diluted at least 50/50 with water if not just a little extra water, and with your wet water, did you put several drops of regular dish washing detergent in with it? Not much is needed and wet the ballast with the wet water. Don't be afraid to wet it good but not drenching it. then I saturate it the rest of the way with the white glue mix. If you did that, once dry, you should have a good hold with your ballest. jamie

[Anonymous]

An interesting problem! I use both homasote and cork, but not together. I've not encountered problems with gluing to either. I mix my glue at least 1:3 (glue:water), using white glue (elmers and others). I've had others ask me about sealing the homasote first, but I haven't bothered. Seems to me that because it's paper, there should be additional bonding happening there. Homasote is used a LOT in MR yet this is the first time I've heard of this problem before. Do you suppose there are any other contributing factors? Did you put a sealer or other coating on the homasote?

[Sperandeo]

I use both HomaBed and gasket cork for roadbed on top of a 3/4" plywood subgrade, and glue my ballast down with a 50:50 mixture of white glue and water. I think Ross's problem is the result of not getting the ballast thoroughly wet before gluing. Going on a recommendation from John Nehrich of the RPI club in New York, I've been using a spray of straight drugstore rubbing alcohol to wet the ballast. It soaks in better than any "wet water" I've ever tried, and if I see the glue mixture puddling instead of flowing I give it another spritz or two with the alcohol and the glue flows right in.

As far as sealers being the problem, I paint my HomaBed or cork and plywood with earth-colored latex paint before I put down the ties or ballast, and that's never been a problem. white glue should stick tenaciously to all these materials. But all the ballast has to be really wet, all the way through, and the glue has to follow the moisture down to the roadbed.

good luck,

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
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[Anonymous]

Thanks for the input guys!!! Ballasting is the only part of the hobby that I truely loathe.

I think i got the ballast thourghly soaked as i didn't have any loose ballast at the bottom but I think I'll try the alcohol. Have you had any problem with it acting as a solvent and degrading/breaking down the glue?

[Anonymous]

hi guys: i agree with andy, i use 1/2" plywood then 1/2" homosoteover the entire surface. my experience has been if the ballast is not throughly soaked it will come up and not adhere to the homosote. i used the reliable method of 50/50 water and white glue, but throughly wet the area with a mixture of water and dish soap about 6 to 1. bob

[Sperandeo]

No Ross,

The glue works just fine with the alcohol, and when it sets it holds extremely well.

Good luck,

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine
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