Man its been over a month since i did anything but run trains. I have been watching Mike Fifer with his new layout. Hes been doing ballast and track tie painting and rusty rails and i like it! So.. I am going to try it out on my old layout. One thing is i have places were i had painted the ballast brown/black for the logging track. So i am having to paint the ballast on the main so it will match up with the sections of new kato track. Another thing is painting the ties and rails. this is going to take time to make it right. Also gonna ballast the main line with new Kato ballast to help with the look. I guess its all for now. just been looking and thinking,(i know, its dangerous). Have a couple of shots of the testing out with track and tie paint.
I have Kato ballast coming and should have it here in thee next few days. While i wait i painted the ballast to get it looking better and the ballast should help make it look great. Thats the mains. the yard and track to the logging camp will be a mix of cinders and earth. Waiting to get the ballast and then see how it looks with the rusty rails.
I got the order of ballast and i started to ballasting for fun and games. its a bit fun trying to miss the turnouts and keep them working. I got some done and lots more to do. have a couple of shots of this fun and games!
hummm i may have to get me some of that ballast looks pretty good. Thanks for sharing those pics. it sure does look good...
It does help where i had to cut a piece of track to fit. A couple of them i cut the track and it left openings. I will cover a bunch of screw ups made. I am great at doing just that. if i can get rid of the rain again my hands will act good without pain. so later for now
Darn'it..I got ballast in the switch for the yard turnout. Gonna have to pull that piece of 45track out and clean out the turnout. its a pain to do that with the ballast and glue on it so its a cut off kind of thing. Just my luck...
Kinda like closing the gate after the cows are out, but could you use, say, 1/2" masking tape along/spanning the rail tops, to keep ballast out from between the rails? I've never ballasted my Unitrack, so I'm kinda shootin' in the dark here...
I use a ballast spreader with the center hole plugged with dried Elmers. That way if I ever need the center open a little water and I can get the plug out. That way I am just getting ballast on the sides. I mostly stay away from ballast around the turnouts had problems with the ballast glue wicking up into the turnout through the bottom.
Well today was a trip to the oriental grocery store. Our departure was timed around a scheduled opening of the Colman Bridge over the York River at the mouth of the bay. Arrived there after about 45 minutes drive and spent about an hour there. First was getting some fresh oriental veggies then to the frozen section where we picked up both black bean and custard steam rolls that when steamed expand. Also got some varieties of Shu Mai and other things like shrimp and fish balls which are cooked in a broth and also expand. Then on to the soups and rice mixes and cooking sauces and mixes. Got a new bottle of Hon Dashi which is a dried granulated fish bouillon. Finally onto the noodles flours and then a stop at the meats to get some ribs and last a visit to the big fish market section where I left with a bag of frozen smelt. Then on the way back a stop at the donut shops where we came away with a hlf dozen assorted. Back across the bridge and a stop at Whitely's peanut shop where I came away with some dark chocolate covered nuts and some honey glazed giant pecans. The Missus picked up a few cans of nuts for herself there. Finally back home where tonight there is still some stuff to put away. Supper was left overs and the Missus left for a short visit to the church. Then I ferried Her to get some new kitchen storage containers at Wally World and the a stop at the pet supply to get a stock of flea medicine for the felines. The next week will be trying to apply said medicine to the fast illusive felines. Rain is forecast for all day tomorrow and I will get busy with making a Budhist delight dish with the fresh veggies while the Missus does a stir fry for supper and we will have some of my homemade eggrolls.
I have the turnout cleaned and working good so its put it back in time. I was just filling the track in the center and it was too close to the base of the turnout. My bad. I don't think a spreader would have helped as it not only laid out the ballast but the center too. This was the only area that i could or would have any issues as this ballast is for the main line. They reast of the track will be painted and cinders with earth to make up the logging lines and yard. Can't believe i used up half a bag just for this short piece of track. I am glad i got two bags! I have the ties painted and the rails rusty rail. Notice how the rails look dark rust, but the top of the rail is clean...whatever that track is. I haven't had any issue with the rest of that track...so far... yeah that... Guess i will have to wait and see. Laters
just a update. I finished the problems in the yard for the logging yard. am starting to clean up the track to the logging camp.i know there is plaster in the track and more beside the track that won't let engines in. gonna have to fix that whole section of track to the trestle. From there it should be fine but to clean the surface and give it a wipe of no-ox to it. Maybe by this weekend i could be running trains up the hills! No shots right now. I tried to for the yard area but i was unable to keep it in focus for the close ups. next time maybe. Smoke
I finally got to check that part of the layout. The extra plaster was from where i built up the mountain or hill..whatever you want to call it. I found two places where the track sags and it don't feel like its connected to the layout. I was able to get a engine up about halfway up to about the middle of that mountain. so i have more work to do there. I just am waiting for me to feel better and get er' done. shots below, Smoke
So, I have been trying to find a combo that would let some of my old track from a two or three layouts ago to use as ballast for the old logging spur. Mixing up paints and using grasses and about anything else i have, i think i get it figured out. See what you all think. Shots below, Smoke
well, i got half the logging track sodded and all done but for the cleaning of the rails. Looks good to me. Shots below, Smoke
I am so sore that i can't do anything else right now. So for now, I am just runn9ng trains on the main.I hate this! i guess i hyper extended myself yesterday and now I woke up in so much pain. This getting old bit is for the dumpster. I want to finish that track to the bridge and get the other safety rails on.Main issue is i have to move the layout away from the back wall and then get in there. The way i feel thats not happening. Thanks DeaconKC
