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Ballasting tip
Ballasting tip
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Ballasting tip
Posted by
Anonymous
on Saturday, February 21, 2004 1:50 PM
A few days ago, I asked a question on the forum about what techniques others liked to use to ballast their track because I didn't like the way the ballast spreader I had worked. Several people responded by saying that they used spoons to spread ballast on their layout. While getting set up to do some more ballasting on my layout, I stumbled upon another idea: how about trying one of the plastic measuring scoops that are commonly used to dispense medicine to kids? (with a 5-year old and a 7-year old, we've got dozens of these laying around). Well, I tried this, and it works really well. I have an N-scale layout, and the width of the scoop corresponds nicely with the width of my track, and I seemed to have better control over where the ballast was going than with a regular spoon. Just thought I would pass along this tip. (By the way, the baby medicine dispensers make great "eyedroppers" for us hobbyists).
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willy6
Member since
January 2003
From: Ridgeville,South Carolina
1,294 posts
Posted by
willy6
on Saturday, February 21, 2004 7:16 PM
i ballast with a piece of PVC PIPE. i cut the pipe down to about 2 inches and make sure the pvc is the width of the track plus,and pur ballast in the pipe and run it down the track.
Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Monday, February 23, 2004 6:13 PM
Great tip on the kiddie-spoons! Though, not having any kids of mine own, I doubt I'll make use of it.
I've collected a few "sporks" from my visits to Taco Bell, to explore their potential for scenery. I haven't used one yet, but I am wondering whether the slotted end will enable better distribution of ballast. The main use I had in mind for them, though, was for sculpting rocks in place.
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Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Monday, February 23, 2004 8:05 PM
I bought the Micro Mark ballasting combine and I have to say, I think it works great.
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