HObbyguyRock ballast and alcohol for wetting are game changers. I remember struggling mightily with WS shell ballast and "wet water" many years ago. I don't remember it being that messy, but what a frustrating exercise. No such problems with the Scenic Express rock ballast that I am using now. Just spread, wet down with alcohol, and add glue.
My experiences were a bit different. Originally, I used WS ballast with white glue and wet water (also tried matte medium). I found it very easy and relaxing, with no difficulties whatsoever. (The white glue method won out over matte medium based solely on cost - to install or in-use, both performed exactly the same.) Recently, I began ballasting the upper level of my layout using real rock ballast, as shown in the photos which I posted earlier. I found it more difficult to spread, mainly because it locks together in much the same manner as does the prototype. I attribute that to its shape, which is more irregular than the WS ballast. Once spread, though, application of wet water and dilute white glue was as quick and easy as with the WS product. If you have especially hard water, alcohol may be a better choice for the wetting agent, but our Lake Ontario tap water, with just a few drops of dish detergent works well. I do enjoy a glass of alcohol after a ballasting session, though.
Wayne
Wayne it may be the screenings that you are using as opposed to commercial rock ballast? By the way the ballast looks great and I am looking forward to seeing it all dressed out.
The WS ballast wanted to lift and ball up with the "wet water". Of course that was a whole lot of years ago. Maybe the ballast has changed, maybe I was doing it wrong somehow, who knows. But I don't want to go back to that experience.
I ballasted around 15 ft of track and four turnouts over the weekend. Keeping the ballast out from where it doesn't belong on turnouts is always tedious. But the system I am using is working for me- Scenic Express rock, tap it out of a little measuring cup, brush it in place with my dedicated "ballast brush", flood with alcohol, then 50/50 Elmers in water applied with an eyedropper. Here are some of the tracks I just ballasted, down and dirty at track level.
(Yes the tree-making and gardening are still going very well, actually exceeding my wildest expectations. Pic was taken with my I-phone, no photoshop- it's my favorite so far.)
Huntington Junction - Freelance based on the B&O and C&O in coal country before the merger... doing it my way. Now working on phase 3. - Walt
For photos and more: http://www.wkhobbies.com/model-railroad/
Great looking scene, Walt.
You may be right about the screenings. I have some finer stuff from the same source and am also screening some of my own, and plan on mixing the finest of it with real dirt (pretty-much powdered) and also with some black tile grout. This will be mostly for the locomotive service area and at the roundhouse. Other siding areas will get the same, but with a greater proportion of dirt and grout, along with ground foam "weeds" and some static grass.
So far all of my ballasting has been pretty straightforward. I am aiming at late summer to early fall so there has been plenty of time for undergrowth to cover up any bare dirt to the ballast in most areas, but the ballast itself is in good shape.
Getting closer to mine tipple and yard constuction and will need to change it up then to get cinders, dirt and other debris into the mix. Just starting to consider how to accomplish what you are now planning for your service area.
Ballasting is OK, just another task to accomplish- like gluing down track or painting rails. What I don't enjoy is trying to do something that just doesn't want to work out for some reason.
I approach ballasting as a zen-like exercise.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Yes I thoroughly enjoy ballasting. It's like therapy.