Omigawd! Ballast Debates again!

[snagletooth]

LMFAO, I love it, great thread, hey while I am here What do you guys think about Bachmann? Mike

Best thing since Tyco!

Really? Splurge a little, Loathar, and get yourself some high quality AHM products! Only the best for my brass rails. 

 While were on the subject(?), is it difficult to change out a standard grass mat for astro turf, I really want the tall prairie grass look. I found some on E-Bay for $500 a Sq. Ft., shipped in an empty Lionel box, is that a deal...anyone?   

[WP 3020]

by the way, I haven't figured out how to insulate my brass track with styrofoam yet.  Should I stop using the beaded stuff????

Good question. Loather brought it up too. What kind of insulation should I use? I was thinking of the blue foam board but I know how to get the Pink Panther fiberglass much cheaper. Can cotton candy be used because it looks the same? What R value is best? Bob Vila said to use the stuff that will cost you more up front because it will pay off in the long run, but I can't remember what he was talking about. I was planning on using a router with a three eighths carbide bit to cut the gaps, is that going to be big enough? Oh, I forgot to say that all my track is glued down with contact cement. Will it be OK if some of the ties are on top in some places? I think that covers all my questions?

P.S. I thought of a new and time saving way to paint my rail. I will use a 9" roller (I only can get the textured kind at my local Hue Jazz Home Improvement & Hardware store). Has anybody else thought of this yet?

[galaxy]

 While were on the subject(?), is it difficult to change out a standard grass mat for astro turf, I really want the tall prairie grass look. I found some on E-Bay for $500 a Sq. Ft., shipped in an empty Lionel box, is that a deal...anyone?   

If that is an EMPTY LIONEL box it comes shipped in, SAVE that box! It will be worth $$$ to some Lionel collector. You could sell IT on e-bay and get your $500 sq/ft back easily!

Astro turf! now why didn't I think of that? That will solve all my problems and it isn't pink or blue!!!!(It does come in other colors???)

Is there a good source for foam rubber? I think it will go great with my new ballast!!! Can I get that on E-bay too? I think I can grind it up with a blender. It comes in a green color, but maybe I can add paint to make ground cover!!! Can I get it at Wally world? Has anyone tried this? I can save lots of $$$!!!

Has anybody learned THIS secret??? I plan to use *REAL* dirt on MY layout!!! It should look great with my new ballast, too. NOw if I can find a good close supplier who is cheap.....

And, has ANYBODY found a GOOD souce where I can buy *DCC READY* *boxcars* and *hoppers* and *flat cars*? These freight cars MUST be DCC compatible as I only want to run DCC with my new ballast now!!!!

Thanks in advance for all your help, I'm a nubee and don't know a loco from a stock car!!!

-G

[loathar]

Make sure that AstroTurf wasn't made with the Chinese lead based paint...

Anybody ever try using saw dust for grass???(I might be on to something here...) 

[cordon]

My magic solution.  I paint my cork roadbed gray and I leave my foam roadbed unadorned.

I won't make you rich that way, but imagine the free time I have.

Thanks.

 

 

[WP 3020]

Make sure that AstroTurf wasn't made with the Chinese lead based paint...

Anybody ever try using saw dust for grass???(I might be on to something here...) 

Saw dust for grass? Might be worth a try, but I think the smoke might be too harsh. What kind of trees do you think will get you baked the best?

There is an easy way to tell if your grass matt or AstroTurf doesn't have lead in it. When it is rolled out and lays down flat after 8 - 10hrs. most likely it contains lead. BTW, anybody Know what the NMRA specs for the weight of ballast, AstroTurf and grass matts? I didn't get that info when I requested it from them. I think it is because they don't recognize me as a 10th. degree master modeler yet. Jerks!

A little off topic, but have you noticed now that some of the model rr cars painted in China with lead free paint are 0.25oz. or more lighter? It may be the reason your New loco doesn't pull as hard too.

[Jake1210]

Is there any special ballast that will let me run HOn3 and On30 at the same time? Also, will the coupler heights match up? And will I need to change the size of my tunnel portals? I scratchbuilt about 20 portals that are in the way of 1" wide and 1 1/2" tall. Also, will Woodland Scenics water cause any problems with my E-Z Command?!? What about their trees?!

 

 

-Jake (Yes, I'm done...lol) S. 

[MAbruce]

 While were on the subject(?), is it difficult to change out a standard grass mat for astro turf, I really want the tall prairie grass look. I found some on E-Bay for $500 a Sq. Ft., shipped in an empty Lionel box, is that a deal...anyone?   

Don't you know by now that eBay sucks?! 

[Weighmaster]

Toast (remember THAT one?) can make great insulated ballast blocks in a variety of toast colors.  Scrape the toast for foliage which can be secured by dipping in softened butter.

[MisterBeasley]

Indeed.  Scottish model railroaders frequently use toast for tunnel portals, so their trains can be seen comin' through the rye.

[GMTRacing]

I tried insulating my frog but it spit up all over me. And the sawdust for grass thing? Forget it - it keeps clogging my lawnmower.  J.R.

[WP 3020]

I like the look of static grass but don't like the price. So I was trying to think of things that have static naturally and might look like grass. Then I quickly pet my cat before touching the doorknob to the layout room. ZZZAP!!! I think I got a bonanza on my hands now. Domestic cat fur has static naturally and with all the global warming coming our way they won't need it any more. Obviously the darker colored fur won't be as realistic but the lighter color cat fur can easily be dyed most any shade you need before you sheer it off. What do you think guys? I hear some modelers are already sifting through the litter boxes for talus rocks.

[Midnight Railroader]

I built the handheld bug-zapper version of the GrasMaster in about 20 minutes last weekend.

 $3 bug zapper plus $2 mid-size strainer. Add 2 d-cell batts, remove a resistor, jumper another, and viola!

Load it with static grass, and you're ready to go.

Warning: Do NOT experiment with aerosol adhesives with this system. I did so without thinking, and the static spark caused a small fire. No damage, but I felt pretty dumb.

[Geared Steam]

Speaking of ballast, I was wondering if if I can run my Big Boy (HO) in 15" radius curves using WS fine ballast, I have a friend who uses medium size ballast but sometime his decoder burns out for no reason at all, also would it look silly to have an Acela double heading with my Big Boy in the 1980's thru San Diego?

   Hi Geared Steam,

 I realise that you are joking about running an HO Big Boy around 15" radius curves, but guess what, There is one that WILL DO IT. The first release of the Trix BB, without sound according to the owner's manual will handle I believe it was a 14 3/16" radius, never tried it, but the manual said it could do it, have to look goofy as all get out though. The later Trix BB with sound, the manual said 18" radius though, I don't know why the difference they appear to be mechanically identical, just the sound system installed in the later version.

                                    Doug

14 3/16" ! I bet that does look funny. Because of circumstances ( room ) I won't be able to have a Big Boy on my present layout. Maybe someday, thanks for the info Doug.