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ballast

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  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 5:05 PM

TRAINDOOD,

  Love to see the pics just ask that 9 yr. old they know everything.  I teach 7-12 graders and the 8th graders know the most.  They say I don't know anything.  Go figureDunce?  Keep on trainin.

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 286 posts
Posted by DennisB-1 on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 5:43 PM

Runtime,

 

Frank53 did a tutorial using Brennan's Better Ballast on postwar tubular with extra ties: Check it out

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Arizona
  • 181 posts
Posted by azflyer on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 6:36 PM

 

Here is another spin on ballast for those of us, that have American Flyer roadbed with A.F. track. This way you need very little ballast. I found cleaning the roadbed by just putting it in the washing machine with large towels works wonders .... just like new. Then I take the old AF track and clean it with a Tycro wheel, which is attach to my Shopsmith. I can turn the speed dial down on the Shopsmith to it lowest speed setting. It takes about 30 seconds to clean a section of track inside and out. It is just like new. 

I have a desert southwest layout 5x16 which I covered the table top surface with microfiber material, beige desert color. You can see it on furniture now days. I sprayed the roadbed with the Krylon textured paint in the travertine tan color. Just install the track in the roadbed and your ready to start your layout. The best part of this, you can run your trains while you are working on the scenery, bridges, washes, and mountains. Three years later I'm still at it....but best of all, I like to run my American Flyer trains for the grand kids They do too. Smoke choo-choo and rail sounds.

Using American Flyer track with AF roadbed. All track is cleaned well, along with the road bed before laying down. I use a brad air nail gun to fasten the rubber roadbed to the base underneath. You will have to adjust the depth on the nail gun as where the brad is to be set, so the track will float in the roadbed. The brad can easily be con-sealed with paint and some ballast material. Just use one brad in each section of rubber roadbed, next to each track connection. Here is a link to some of the pictures that will show more in detail. http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/p/scenery.html

Can you spot the eagle on the side of the mountain?

 

 

“Tell me and I’ll forget;Embarrassed show me and I may remember;Smile involve me and I’ll understand.”Big Smile

 

AZ-Flyer@American Flyer Cabinet-top Layout (5'x16'): http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/  

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Sparta, N.J.
  • 344 posts
Posted by traindood on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 10:26 PM

hey laz:    the best part of aging is that the older my grandkids get, the smarter i become!  is'nt life great! all this and trains too! Yipee!

Think good thoughts, do good deeds! 

 

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Thursday, January 13, 2011 6:25 AM

TRAINDOOD,

  If you look at the tutorial of FRANK 53 balast laying, that is exactly what I do save for the color on the crushed walnuts.  A little more color to give whatever color you want the walnuts to be.

laz57

  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: North Carolina
  • 36 posts
Posted by Tower49 on Saturday, January 15, 2011 6:29 PM

My favorite poison is dry-rite, the stuff they use in garages for sopping up oil on the floor,

Much like Wanderer's kitty litter, it lays down nice between the ties on my Gargraves track.

I secure it  to the raodbed with a  solution of Elmers Glue and water from an empty whiskey bottle with small holes punched in the cap, then wipe the rails with a soft cotton cloth.  I've done this on all my railroads and it works great. The engines don't pick up any of it and it looks good, especially when you tint it with flat black so it looks like cinders.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Sparta, N.J.
  • 344 posts
Posted by traindood on Monday, January 17, 2011 9:02 AM

hello; great idea. know about that stuff. too dusty for me.like the idea of the whiskey bottle. just think i used to throw them away.Laugh  later.

Think good thoughts, do good deeds! 

 

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