roadbed

[Anonymous]

hi

does anybody know if the look of roadbed with ballast can actually be acheived without the roadbed. If i just use ballast will it look...um .... will it look bad!?

many thanks

Pavariangoo

[Pruitt]

Well, the ballast will have more of a seldom-used branchline or siding ballast slope than the look of a well-maintained mainline, I think.

[soumodeler]

Depends on what kind of track you are using. If you use flextrack or Atlas sectional track is won't look like a real rr. Real rrs need to elevate the track for drainage. The track with the roadbed already on them is ready for ballast. Bachmann and Atlas are two good ones. Unless you use the last two, you need roadbed to make it look good.

soumodeler
-----------------
The Southern Serves the South!

[Anonymous]

the reason i ask is because i want to use a foam base for my table and nailing through cork into foam is difficult

[Anonymous]

Hi
I'm using foam and I haven't started to put the track and roadbed down yet but I plan to glue the cork and hold it in place with nails then glue and nail the track. The nails just hold it in place until the glue dries.
See ya

[Adelie]

Use an adhesive. A lot of people like latex caulk, since it won't eat the foam. I'm using plywood subroadbed and "glue" cork or WS foam to that, and then "glue" the track to the roadbed.

I put the word "glue" in quotes because I'm using it to refer to any adhesive, not just white glue or contact cement.

I'm sitting here thinking that I probably don't have a nail anywhere in my empire. Hmm, I may have to drive one somewhere just for effect.

[Anonymous]

Nails in just the cork work just fine for holding the track.

Mark in Utah