My Layout
Dec. 9-10 I did some ballasting. The light shade I did first and that same length on the 2 front tracks. The siding is for a business car and so on. Continue on the next day with doing one switch. I thought I finished the ground throw on the switches but I missed one at the center paint brush. Next I will start ballasting in the center where the 3 paint brushes are, another shade.
A section was added onto the back of the layout for the suburbs of small homes, gas station, country store, post office, flagstop depot and a small church on a little hill with a grave yard. 1950's era. . . . . The arrow shows where the road will come across the tracks. (Top Left Center) A new sky backdrop will have to be made longer for the new section. This add on section will be removed so I can ballast track area better.
I first did the engine house tracks and a siding beside it. Then I went to the center to work out. For HO scale I use FINE ballast, mostly gray blend B1393. I was doing just about 10 to 12 inches each time, very little each day. Wednesday, December 23rd I was able to work from one section to another, 1st center and then the 2nd left in the morning. That afternoon I did the 3rd section which was around 3 feet long.
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When I started working on the center section these are the ingredients I used below. Added 1 part Mod Podge in the bottle, then add 3 parts water plus 3 or 4 drops of dishwasher liquid. After spreading out the ballast, smoothing it evenly between the ties and sides, time for gluing. I use a small spray mist bottle with 50% alcohol, try spraying a mist on the ballast without disturbing it. Try to get it wet and soak in fairly good. I tried using a spray bottle for the glue mixture but after squeezing the trigger it squirts in a stream disturbing the smooth ballast. "What A Mess". An eye dropper seems to work best, start in the center between the rails. Then the outside of the rails, the glue should run down. Not too much here on the outside edge. The eye dropper may seen to take a long time but in the long run it is worth it. Letting it set for 24 hours is best.
As each part sets up, the next day I check it out with my "track test train". Make sure all connections and switches are working correctly. Make any corrections needed.
With this high embankment I had to worry about the ballast trying to sag in places even with a eye dropper. I would go back the next day and add more ballast where needed, spray mist with 50% alcohol and use the glue mix with eye dropper in these touch-up places.
With the center section completed, next to start on the outer track and siding and work around.
