Applying ballast to Atlas True-Track

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I used Atlas True-Track with the roadbed attached to the track on my small layout. Has anyone applied ballast on top of the plastic roadbed? How did you do it? Here is how I plan to do it:

  1. Apply 100 percent Matte Medium with a brush to the sides of the roadbed up to the ends of the ties.

  2. Apply fine Woodland Scenics ballast on to the matte medium and let dry.

  3. Vaccuum away excess ballast

  4. Apply ballast between tracks, using a brush to spread and uncover ties.

  5. Spray ballast with 100% alcohol.

  6. Using a pipette or an eye dropper, flood area with mixture of water and matte medium.

  7. After this dries, vacuum up excess again.

Will this work?

2

That’s pretty similar to what I did with EZ track.

First I sprayed the track and ties with a dark brown. Then I painted the plastic ballast to match my ballast color.

I did the center first applying the ballast then brushing it into place. I then sprayed with wet water (a few drops of dish detergent) then used a 50-50 mix of Elmers and water with an eyedropper. Then I spread straight Elmer’s on the side (one at a time), applied and spread the ballast with a brush, then used wet water and 50-50 glue. I kept the process in manageble segments.

I then painted the grease stain down the center of the rails.

3

I, too, ballasted my EZ-Track. I first spread a light dusting between the rails and cleaned up the tie tops and rail webbing. The excess in any one place simply got brushed onward toward the direction of laying ballast.

Next, I spread a thin layer over the outer ties and the plastic ballast until I had enough to cover it all, brushed gently to clear the ties, and made sure that I didn’t distrurb the nice profile while doing so. I tried to minimize overuse so that I didn’t have too much at the bottom edges of the plastic where it met the roadbed.

Next, a light spritz or dribble of 50/50 water and isopropyl alcohol, with the spritz working best for the profiled part outboard of the track. However, a patient dribbler will do just fine.

Finally, dribble (please do not spritz!) a relatively thin glue mixture (1 part white/yellow glue to three parts water or more, two drops of dish detergent) onto the inboard and outboard stuff, and let it dry. If you are careful, you can tamp the lower parts of the ballast to improve the line, but don’t go anywhere near the stuff lying aside the mid to upper plastic. You’ll be sorry if you do.

Give it all a solid 18 hours to dry, more if in the typical basement or humid garage.