Ballast around turnouts!!!!???

[Anonymous]

I use the simple method of ALying ballast...... Lay the Ballast, get it into position, Spay it with water and soap, then spread the glue with an eye dropper, works great, No problems, BUT, I do have problems around Turnouts, Is there a solution to my problem, or is it, "JUST BE CAREFUL"???

[twhite]

JUST BE CAREFUL!!!! What I do is ballast up to the tie right before the pivot point, leave that bare, then begin ballasting the ties behind the pivot point. Even then, you're bound to get a stray grain or two in there that you'll have to clean out with a knife-blade. And make sure that you go over the frogs with a stiff-bristle toothbrush, that should remove any little grains that have decided to make their home in those trouble-spots. It's amazing what one little grain of ballast can do in those tight clearances. Don't think you're alone in this, I can't think of any model railroader I know that hasn't been reduced to unprintables while ballasting turnouts. Just take it slow and careful, and have an X-acto knife and a toothbrush at the ready.
Tom [:D]

[Anonymous]

I also use a straw to remove ballast. Slit the last 1" of the straw and make a small cone out of it, hold it together with scotch tape. Blow on the oppisite end and you have a very good "jet" stream to remove ballast. If you don't shorten the straw you can see where you are blowing.

Bob

[siberianmo]

You got it right: JBC - Just Be Careful! Going slow and with care will bring you dividends in terms of realistic looking work .........

See ya![tup]

[mcouvillion]

Boglwe,

We ballasted our turnouts and eventually glued them solid on the club layout. One of the guys suggested re-hydrating the glue with water, so we used an eyedropper to place just a bit of water where it needed to be. After about 5 minutes, the ballast in the wrong spots was loose and easy to remove with a small pick (or vacuum). To prevent the glue from re-solidifying on the rails and stopping the points from throwing, we used oil, just like the railroads do. What a difference! The points threw like they were brand new, unballasted turnouts. We have started on a program to oil the throw rods and undersides of the point rails of all of our turnouts. Watering the glue and then oiling the moving parts made a near impossible job a breeze.

Mark C.

[Anonymous]

What kind of oil are you using for that? I see a lot of Gunk in my future, heh, But it sounds like a very reasonable Idea. One that I will certainly try out. I ballasted many switches last night, after all the suggestions i got here, and 4 outta 5 worked fine, But the 5th one had a lot of trouble and got glue on the inside. I will repair it at another time.