Arctic Train
March 1st, 2007, 08:13 PM
I've been experimenting with ballasting material and techniques and think I've come up with a plan and product that I will be using on my new layout. Thanks to Dan Crowley and his idea http://www3.telus.net/public/crowley/ballasting.htm
I think I'm free of the Woodland Scenics floating ballast problems.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/P10100581.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/P10100562.JPG
I was planning on using Arizona Rock and Minerals products but I can't find the color that I want. Their website leaves much to be desired and no one that I know of in the Tacoma area carried a decent display of the stuff. Cost was also an issue. With this grout/sand technique I should be able to do the whole lower section of my layout for around $20.
Per Mr. Crowleys instructions this is a 50/50 mix of grey grout and sand. I haven't used the black acrylic wash yet but I think that will darken the color to a more basalt look that I'm shooting for. I also applied the mixture dry just like any other ballast then after positioning it sprayed it down. This was a real quickie test so I didn't even use wet water. The water soaked in without any problems.
Two issues I'm still a bit concerned about. Dan if you're out there maybe you could provide some input.
1). Just like when you tile a floor, the grout leaves a dusty haze over everythning necessitating a number of fresh water washes to get rid of the haze. I found the same to be true with the ties on my test diorama. With all the track I need to do this extra step would be a months long chore.
2.) After sealing the ballast with a white glue/water mix everyting seems to be held down just fine, however grout and sand are very abrasive and I'm concerned that some of this stuff may get into the loco gears and really gunk things up. Probably no worse than Arizona R&M but the thought did cross my mind. Anyone have a bad experience along this line and what might be done or avoided to keep bad things from happening other than glueing the bejeepers out of it?
Let me know what you think.
Brian
My Railimages site.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/6429
I think I'm free of the Woodland Scenics floating ballast problems.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/P10100581.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/500/P10100562.JPG
I was planning on using Arizona Rock and Minerals products but I can't find the color that I want. Their website leaves much to be desired and no one that I know of in the Tacoma area carried a decent display of the stuff. Cost was also an issue. With this grout/sand technique I should be able to do the whole lower section of my layout for around $20.
Per Mr. Crowleys instructions this is a 50/50 mix of grey grout and sand. I haven't used the black acrylic wash yet but I think that will darken the color to a more basalt look that I'm shooting for. I also applied the mixture dry just like any other ballast then after positioning it sprayed it down. This was a real quickie test so I didn't even use wet water. The water soaked in without any problems.
Two issues I'm still a bit concerned about. Dan if you're out there maybe you could provide some input.
1). Just like when you tile a floor, the grout leaves a dusty haze over everythning necessitating a number of fresh water washes to get rid of the haze. I found the same to be true with the ties on my test diorama. With all the track I need to do this extra step would be a months long chore.
2.) After sealing the ballast with a white glue/water mix everyting seems to be held down just fine, however grout and sand are very abrasive and I'm concerned that some of this stuff may get into the loco gears and really gunk things up. Probably no worse than Arizona R&M but the thought did cross my mind. Anyone have a bad experience along this line and what might be done or avoided to keep bad things from happening other than glueing the bejeepers out of it?
Let me know what you think.
Brian
My Railimages site.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/6429