I am building an 8' X 11' HO layout and I have a few questions... I am modeling a Southern California Layout in modern times.... 1) I am trying to figute which ballast to mix for the roadbed... Any great combos would be helpfull.... 2) I have a yard and turntable in the middle of the layout which I believe usually is not on roadbed... How do you make a good looking transition from cork roadbed to the plywood surface? I appreciate any feedback and will post pictures next weekend... Thanks for the help in advance... Dave
From a fellow Californian... The roadbed around here is a dark brown. I'd mix about 75% Fine Brown Ballast with 25% Fine Black Ballast from Woodland Scenics for the proper effect on the mainline. The local Union Pacific sidings are ballasted in medium gray where I am (Central Coast). Your turntable should still be elevated off the plywood to the level of the roadbed. You don't acutally ring it with roadbed - you cover everything with ballast, including around the turntable. Perhaps not the answer you were looking for, but your question doesn't quite make sense to me - I never have a transition to plywood planned anywhere on my layout - the whole point is to cover the plywood! Hope this helps, David
To help with the second question, you CAN use cork sheets. They're the same thickness as the cork roadbed. When covered with ballast it gives the appearance of not having a real roadbed but it keeps the tracks at the same height as the incoming lines.
