I'm going to be constructing a new layout that is a winter scene, utilizing lots and lots of woodland scenics' snow (which looks AWESOME on my layout under the Xmas tree). My question is this: I'm going to be using flextrack and cork roadbed. Will it be necessary for me to ballast the track before applying the snow? I'm going for a pretty snowed in look, but I think that the brown from the cork will be too hard to cover with just the fake stuff. (On the Xmas layout, I had to augment with a quick undercoat of matte white spray paint). Thanks in advance.
I would ballast the track so that if there are any bare spots from the snow, the ballast will show through and not the cork. Just my opinion.
Kevin
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I think you may have answered your own question. If you had to use a white basecoat before, you may want to consider using it again.
A direct answer to your question about using ballast is: maybe! On some layouts, like mine, the ballast performs duty as a holding agent for the track. In those instances, ballast is needed to hold the track in place. On layouts where the track and roadbed are firmly glued in place, ballast is just for visual effects. If you're going to cover everything in snow, ballast is then unnecessary.
From a modeling standpoint, you may want to consider ballasting at least part of your track. Larger railroads don't let snow accumulate on their tracks and train movements often clear snow from between the rails. Having some areas ballasted and showing light snow would look more realistic, IMO. Other areas can have snow cover over everything, as if it's newly fallen snow or less used track.
Hope this helps.
Darrell, quiet...for now
Yeah, I think I'm going to do a light ballasting prior to applying the snow. This isn't meant to be a prototypical layout, just one for my kids to enjoy.
Thanks for the inputs :)
I would ballast it. In nature you will see dark tie ends here and there, probably quite a number in a row between drifts. If you can see the tie end, there's an excellent chance that the ballast would be bared by the wind. It may be icy, but it will be somewhat cleared and visible.
On the other hand, if you have freshly cleared tracks after a blizzard, you won't see anything except the cleared path created by the plow or thrower, so that might mean some vertical cuts through scale snow about 12 feet deep. In such places, you would not see the ballast, and probably not much of the rails and ties, depending on the expediency required for get freight moving, and the corporation's policy on clearing thoroughly.
-Crandell
If you haven't purchased your cork roadbed yet, consider using Homabed from California roadbed co.
It's roadbed made from Homasote far better then cork for many reason but in our care t comes a very light gray much better then the dark brown of cork for your purposes. If you paint the cork it will seal it and make it hard just as when it dries out and gets brittle. If your set on using cork then I would use some sort of wash rather then a paint. maybe thinned ot white latex flat paint. so it soakes into the cork rather then cover it like paint does.
In regard to ballasting yes of course you should if you want it to look real. Even when covered by heavy snow once the plow has passed or the snow blower in use these days or good old mother natures sun beats on the track some ties and ballast are bound to show through.if not the snow would fill the voids between the ties where the ballast should be, try it on a few pieces of sectional track both ways and see what ya like best
Do a Google search on snow covered train tracks?