Im new to the hobby and I am have started laying track, and I am wanting to ballast. what is the best way to adhere the ballast? Can you use white glue/water mix?
Thanks in advance for your help
Hello and welcome, i use woodland scenics fine ballast on my HO scale railroad, i follow these stages:-
secure and test track
apply Ballast with a spoon a bit at a time
use a small flat paintbru***o get correct profile
TAKE GREAT CARE AROUND SWITCHES
when happy with the look i spray with a 75/25 mix of water and rubbing alcohol, use a fine spray and give it a good soak, this mix pennetrates better than just water
next i use 50 / 50 PVA glue and water mix applied with a small dropper bottle, apply to the center of the track first and if it’s wet enough you will see the glue run out of the ballast shoulders, dont worry to much about the excess and don’t try to clean any up, wait till it dries in a couple of days
for oil streaks in the center i mix some household black paint with water and dribble it onto the track near switches and engine terminals,
have a go on a test piece first to see how you get on, you only need 6" or so
Welcome along to the hobby kiwis.
I’d recommend the diluted white glue method for sticking down ballast and scenic materials. After placing dry ballast I usually soak the ballast with a mist of “wet water” (water with some rubbing alcohol or a couple of drops of household detergent in it) from a plant sprayer. Then I either spray or use an eye dropper to run in the dilute white glue, making sure it all goes milky white. Leave it for several days to dry out, then clean the rails and flangeways thoroughly before running trains.
Why not check out the article on the Turtle Creek Railroad in this months Model Railroader, which covers this subject.
Thanks for the speedy replies. I have all the ingredients necessary, so I will have some fun this weekend![:D]