Ok, so I just bought a whole lot of Atlas Track from the local Hobby Store. I am going to put down 2 layers of pink insulation foam (Because I will have a Subway as well as a 2ft tunnel leading to an urban station) then start boring tunnels, and nailing down track. Now, I don't have any Track Corkbed due to budget issues, or any experience laying track. I also have very little experience ballasting track, and my environment is going to be tropical and beach-like, so I would probably mix the ballast with sand. Any Idea how I would Start? Materials - "Scenic Cement" (Elmer's Glue, Water, a small amount of detergent in a spray bottle) - Ballast (Small Gray Gravel bits from a local road) - Sand (From the bottom of the next door stream) - Testers Glue (A makeshift nail every 5 inches) and of course track
Thanks maxairedale! Just have a few more noob questions for you (or any other Trainboard Member). Ok, so I don't have track bed. Should I have it? If so, how do I make one? This is my ballast: Does it look small enough? I am now not sure if I should mix the ballast with sand, or even have grass on my layout. Because it is a tropical area, do you think where there is usually grass I should just sprinkle sand? Thanks! Will
That rock is not fine enough for n-scale ballast. A good way to judge is place it between the ties of a piece of track, and see how it fills the area. You don't want any sticking up over the ties. Real sand on n-scale won't look like sand. It will look like sand colored gravel (in fact the grain size of most commercial sand is about the size, if not larger, you need for n-scale ballast). If you want sandy beaches, etc., try grinding up some sand colored pastel chalk (you can shave it with a hobby knife, then crush it). Remember, divide the size of EVERYTHING by 160, including grains of sand, and the freckles on kids' faces playing on the beach.
My advice for N scale is to find something between fine sifted desert sand and dust. If you can, gather sand, dirt, and rocks from the actual area of where you model (on my San Diego & Arizona Eastern layout, I used sifted dirt from the Campo and Jacumba areas in southern California to ensure the colors match.)
Here's a couple pictures of my N scale layout so you can get an idea of how fine sand/gravel should be: From far away, you shouldn't be able to see individual grains. Up close, you can see that the grains are very, very, very tiny...
So, what should I do as far as track bed goes? If I get some very fine beach sand, could I use that as my ballast and groundcover? When I get to my beach section, I am going to cover it with realistic water. Should I place the sand below, then pour it on?
On 1:1 track...ties are roughly 13 inches apart. Inbetween there are approx 11-12 ballast stones accross that width . Think small...its easy...LOL:tb-biggrin:
So, what should I do as far as track bed goes? If I get some very fine beach sand, could I use that as my ballast and groundcover? When I get to my beach section, I am going to cover it with realistic water. Should I place the sand below, then pour it on? So, for Question #2, thats a yes?
YES...as long as it is fine enough...it should work...well...fine...for ballast :thumbs_up: As Rick said... If you want sandy beaches, etc., try grinding up some sand colored pastel chalk (you can shave it with a hobby knife, then crush it). In N Scale...beaches are going to have to be a really fine *powder* to replicate *sand* .
1. Now, what should I do as far as the track bed goes? 2. So, I use this as my groundcover? 3. I imagine I would just apply diluted elmers glue with a brush to my pink insulation foam, and then sprinkle powder throughout. Correct?
I personally use some type of road bed and others go without. You might try cutting a grove in the foam along side the track to simulate the road bed. Gary
I'm not sure, but I think the chemicals in the paint and/or propellant will melt the foam. Try first on a scrap. You need a paint the is foam friendly or foam safe, it should say on the can if it is. Gary
Don’t save money on the ballast Don’t save money on the ballast! It’s one of the most important things to get your Layout a realistic look. I used on my Layout ballast from Woodland Scenic’s. one bag Ballast 7 onz. Last for a long while! First I use real dirt fine sifted with a tea strainer. Then on the top of that one layer Wodland’s. Glue it wit one part white glue and 7 parts distillated water. And very important 3 – 4 drops of dishwasher. Other ways your ballast will float away. I used on my Layout ballast from Woodland Scenic’s. one bag Ballast 7 onz. Last for a long while! Then I spray it over with a cheap hairspray.
Yep. Good ballast makes all the difference. This is Arizona Rock and Mineral in my yard. Three different kinds. The gray is Northern Pacific mix, the rest is fin dust and some coarser tan dirt.
Ballasting is a very important part of a model railroad, mainly because your trains are running over it, and what are you looking at again? Yeah, the trains. I tried some sand, not as fine as what you have, but still I didn't really like the results, which can be seen in this picture. Like I said, I wasn't really pleased with the results, so I went to WS Ballast, and it yields more realistic results, after giving the track and ballast 2-3 washes of acrylic black paint.
I treat the track as a model just like a structure or ground cover. I always do some additional weathering after the ballasting. This weathered track is ME code55 at the op and Peco code55 at the bottom.
