Great Job!

Thanks...

Ballasting looks great Jas

Ballasting looks great Jas and i like the weathering you have done. it definately breaks up the uniform look with different shades. keep up the good work. Looking forward to more pics

Dan

Great Job!

I was actually Ballasting some of My track in  My Yard area Tonight

Do you think you would be able to take a closeup photo

of that tail track behind the industry? it looks amazing!

Nice!

If that trackwork runs as good as it looks your railroad should work flawlessly Jas.

What are you using?

Very nice work. Would you mind sharing the type of ballast you are using and your process? I want my ballast to look just like your photo.

Here you go Skoti...

As requested...

The photo backdrops have to be replaced as these ones were done from a colour photocopier and did not have any protectant on them...

Next stage will be to add the wire fence, hayes bump stop and details...

Jas...

Thanks Kevin...

It actually runs really well, I've not had one issue to date with the PECO Code 83 in this section.

Jas...

Hey Robert, the ballast is...

I was recommended by Rob Spangler (wp8thsub) to use Scenic Express - #40 Natural Stone Ballast.  I was using Woodland Scenics Light Grey - Fine Ballast.

Since converting I'm hooked, the Natural Stone ballast is so much better to work with and looks far more realistic when finished.

When laying ballast I airbrush my track first, I use Polly Scale Railroad Tie Brown for the lot.  Once this has dried over a full day I lay the ballast using a small 3/4" measuring tube (easy to handle, and to get into tight places).

I then tap out the ballast (Natural Stone #40 either Light Grey or Dark Grey or varying blends of both, so that it fills the inner track making sure that it only just fills the inner track, I then do the outer track on both sides.  When this is done I use a small foam wedge brush to smooth out the ballast.

I have cut down one of the smaller brushes so that it fits into the rails and use this for spreading the ballast in between the rails.  I use a normal width smaller brush to do the outside track, and I use the 45 degree taper to assist in getting the angle of the batter correct.

I then take a little time to clean the track of all ballast using the wedge brushes and by tapping the rail head with the handle.

It is then a process of wetting the ballast with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and then applying a 50/50 water/white glue mix to the ballast.  I then let it all dry for a full day before weathering with powders and/or oil paints.

This is the Dark Grey/Light Grey blend dried and before weathering...

Jas...

Thank you

Jas: Thank you very much for the detailed description and new photos. So you get the Scenic Express light and dark ballast and mix them together? Also, your ties look great, too. Nice contrast of the stone and the ties. Do you do any other detailing to them besides the airbrushing when you hit the rails with paint?

How much ballast

Is there a calculation to determine how much ballast will be needed?

Not much apart from airbrushing...

Nice!

Jas,

This area is really coming together nicely. Your method of building scenes has always flummoxed me, i.e. the finished track and ballast next to a building that isn't even near completion and the section of plywood in the center of the photo, but the final results are spectacular. Everything comes together and looks fantastic. Just some really, really fine work!

Tom Patterson

Thanks Tom...