I'm trying a weird experiment. My layout is a modular one made up of primarily 48"x8" sections that goes around the edge of my living room on a frame supported by IKEA Stolmen posts. Near my window, I thought it might be fun to try growing live plants on some of the sections since I get some sunlight there in the morning. I made 1" deep modules out of acrylic sheets, mounting the track on a 1" thick strip of styrofoam with foam roadbed, then ballasted and secured the ballast with acrylic matte. I put soil right next to the track, and planted some ground covers. When I water the ground cover, the water will still soak into the ballast from the soil, discoloring it, and eventually start breaking down the acrylic matte so it turns orange and brittle. Other than that the whole idea seems to work well. I've had it set up for several months, and aside from the track getting dirty a little faster, I haven't had any issues. Can anyone suggest another product I might try for securing the ballast that won't break down or let the water soak in? I thought about maybe using cement mixed with the ballast, but I don't know if I want to do that.
any clear flat paint will seal it if applied heavily enough,water or oil based,but you'd need to also seal the surface as far out as the dirt goes so the water won't seep under it.
Atlas true track C65, it is like unitrack but with the looks of code 55!!! That is the only thing I can think of. Paint the ballast on the true track and there should be no more problems with water making the I presume woodland scenics ballast crumble. Of course you could leave the true track el natual... that way the calcium and what ever else is in the water will not stain the paint and give you unsatisfactory results...
I would use some Arizona Rock & Mineral ballast and an epoxy. The AR&M is real rock, so won't degrade over time, even if it does get wet, and the epoxy will keep things dry. It sounds like a neat set up. Pictures?
Pics! http://www.steveferrisworld.com/trains/images/layout/IMG_0100.jpg http://www.steveferrisworld.com/trains/images/layout/IMG_0102.jpg http://www.steveferrisworld.com/trains/images/layout/IMG_0103.jpg http://www.steveferrisworld.com/trains/images/layout/IMG_0105.jpg http://www.steveferrisworld.com/trains/images/layout/IMG_6593.jpg The track is ME Code 55 flex. The ballast is real rock, but I think there may be too much dust in it or something. You can see a little bit of mold actually around the edge of some of the ballast. The last picture is before I had laid any track, and before I'd started the acrylic tray/ground cover experiment, so all the modules are styrofoam.
Steve,if you're having mold problems,you're pretty much going to have mold problems wether you seal it or not.You can use real dirt,it looks good,but rather than water it to keep real plants going,you might want to consider at least using fake greenery..
I think I'm finding that some soil is more resistant to mold. The part with the mold is pure organic potting soil, but on other places I used red clay dirt from the California foothills, and I haven't had mold on that yet.
Well,sand won't grow mold either,but nothing will grow in clay or sand.The "organic" part is what plants live on..
