I am one of those people who HATE ballasting track with a passion. In fact the last two layouts I have built I used for the most part molded sectional track with ballast included This in order to keep the amount of ballast work that I had to do to a minimum.
That kind of track is not a option for me on my current project, an On30 diorama. I am wondering if anyone has found any adhesive options other than good old fashioned diluted Elmer’s Glue. I am especially interested the experiences of anyone who has also used the new foam subroadbed material from Woodland Scenics, which I used for the first time on this project. I am concerned that it will just soak up the diluted glue like a blotter.
quote-I am afraid it will just soak up the glue like a blotter.
I found just the opposite. The glue doesn’t stick very well. (I personally hate the stuff)
There is always Matte Medium glue like Mod-Podge instead of Elmers. It dries nice and flat.
Do you mean the WS foam roadbed (not subroadbed?) I use it, and I think it takes the glue very well.
I don’t spray anything, by the way. It’s way too much of a mess. On my last short ballasting project, I tried a couple of things that worked well. First, I brushed full-strength Elmers on the diagonal sloped sides of the roadbed, and then sprinkled on ballast. I let that dry, and I had a good base that wasn’t going to slide off. Then I applied the rest of the ballast around the track, between the rails and to cover any spots I missed on the side. I took a pipette and applied full-strength 90% isopropyl alcohol, and then used another pipette to dribble on dilute (1 part glue to 3 parts water) Elmers. I only do about a foot or two of track at a time with the alcohol-glue sequence, then move down and do some more.
I use Elmer’s glue, diluted 4 water to 1 Elmer’s. I did try matte medium on a small area of my layout until I learned on this forum that once it is dry, matte medium won’t dissolve easily with water like Elmer’s. And, that’s a big deal when you want to pull up some turnouts or maybe start a new layout with the same turnouts. When I tore up my last layout, it was easy to just soak the turnouts with water and the ballast came right off. In fact, I placed them in a bucket of water and waited till the ballast came off and just rinsed the turnouts. They were as good as new.
I too use the WS roadbed and it works just fine with dilute matte medium glue. I apply the ballast, mist with 70% alcohol, and then dribble on the mm with an old after shave bottle (the kind with the tiny insert in the neck to control flow.)
I like the glue on the shoulders trick. I’ll have to try that one. It might replace some touchup work.
When applying the ballast itself I use a small container, being careful not to add too much at once and spread with a 5/8" strenciling brush (HO) or a piece of foam rubber. One trick that I experimented with in hidden staging was what roofers call “Ice and water Shield”. I used the black mineral surfaced kind, self stuck to the plywood under the track. It looks sort of like a thin layer of cinder ballast. Give it a try. If you really hate ballasting this might work for you.
I’m using the WS roadbed, presoaking w/70% alchohol and 1:1 glue for the final. No real problems with adhesion and if the ballast has to be removed a good soaking w/90% alchohol does the trick. I use my finger to spread the ballast and a small brush to remove it from the tie ends. Having typed all this, I am starting to use MrB’s technique of pregluing some ballast on the slope with 100% Elmers.