Ballasting track

[Anonymous]

Hi all. I have just finished my first layout, a simple oval with one spur inside the oval and two outside.

I am ballasting the layout now and would like advice on how to cover hide the fact that on some of the curves, there is more cork roadbed on one side of the track than the other. I have tried trimming the excess, but it looks shoddy.

Ballasting it would leave one side with more ballast than on the other. Could I add more scenery to that side of the track to compensate?

Any ideas?
Thanks very much,
Don Cathcart

[Anonymous]

Hi Don,
I would try to trim it to the right width and ad it to the other side if you can.You could also try polyfila to build it up.I have sidings that come down off the mainline and gradually went from the raised main to nothing.Once you ballast your track you won't se it.The ballast will hide a multitude of sins.
Good luck let me know how you make out,
Randy.

[Anonymous]

Hi Don, From what you have described I think you made the same mistake I did some 40 years ago when I built my first layout using cork roadbed. If the ties of the track are aligned to the edge of the roadbed you will come out with more roadbed on one side of a curve than the other. In the future align your track to the centerline of the roadbed and the track ties will come out eqi-distant from the edges of the roadbed, even in curves. Don't take up what you've got though if it works well...just like you said add some more scenery and ballast...it will come out looking great. Take Care....Vic

[Anonymous]

The one good thing about this hobby is that we all learn from our mistakes and try not to make them a second time. Vic is right when he said that align your track to the center line of the cork roadbed. It helps to use a radius tool.I glued down the roadbed with liquid nails,and it keeps it from shrinking also. Good luck and keep it on the iron.

[Anonymous]

I'd be concerned about more than the appearance. Which curve is wrong, the roadbed or the track? If it's the track that's wrong, is it wrong enough to require fixing it? If it is, it will be a lot easier to do it now than after you've ballasted.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, but color me dumb! I am a real newbie at this, as I haven't been into model railroad since I was 12. I am 36 now!

Anyways, if you could explain your reply to me, as here is what I did: I laid the track, tacked it down and traced on both sides of the track and placed marks downn the middle. After I had traced the outline of the track, I took it up and placed the cork roadbed. It was okay for the straight sections,but for the curves, I couldn't really tell if the cork, which came presplit, was unsure when laying it onn a curve, if was centered on it or not. The marks I made between the rails to line up and the outline really didn't help

I hope I haven't confused you?
Thanks for your assistance. Maybe next time I should lay the cork in sections,esp in the curves, to make sure it is centered?

Don

[Anonymous]

Don -
Here's how to do it next time.

-- Just mark the center line of the track, you might be able to use the holes in the ties for this if you get creative. Or draw it using straight edges, compasses, etc.

-- Use the centerline marking to locate one half of the cork roadbed. Depending on the surface, a god way is to insert pins along the marking every inch or so, so that they are just next to one side of the marking. Then you can pu***he cork against the pins to locate it. Use straight pins, whatever you can easily get.

-- Fasten down that half of the cork.

-- After the first half is secure, glue dried, whatever, pull out the pins and use that half to locate the second half by pushing the second half against it.

This has worked well for me. My problem is that I'm trying to figure out how to do the same thing with the Woodlands Scnec foam roadbed, which isn't split!

You didn't mention what kind of track you were using. If it is sectional track, then you are probably OK. But if it is flexible track, I'd make sure that you didn't get the curve radii tighter than you wanted to, and that the curve are smooth.

[Anonymous]

Hi Don, If you are using sectional track all you have to do is just lay the track on your table/subroadbed and use the nail/spike holes to mark the centerline of the of cork roadbed. Then take the track up. Align the cork roadbed butt end to butt end on the marks you made and fasten it down. The joint between the two pieces of cork roadbed becomes the centerline of the track.

For flex track you'll have to draw your center line on the subroadbed then put down the cork/track as described above. I use an old yardstick with holes drilled in it to make various radi curves and then use the straight side to lay out the straight sections. Actually with a little practice you can "eyeball" curves into place. Take Care....Vic

[Anonymous]

Just an idea here. IF the misaligned area isn't throughout the entire curve you may be able to hide the area with a street crossing or maintenance of way dirt road.