I am modeling a large yard and want to make the ties almost disappear, i.e., appearance of absence of ballast. I will use Sculptamold between tracks and am looking for an uncomplicated way to blend this terrain into the ballast area. Any ideas?
I don’t have anything to suggest, but I would be interested in what you find out and I want to see pictures of your good work …
here is a thread you may find useful. Sent you an email if you want to try it.
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/132874/1492485.aspx#1492485
I think that at the end of the yard where you get to the ballasted area I would just press some ballast into the sculptamold. In actuallity yards are ballasted, but often with different materials and certainly not as well. Where the two come together there will be mixing. Out on the road there may be distinct differences where they may have replaced ties, had a washout, etc, and used ballast fron a different scource. I’d say in your case, the two types would just sort of blend together.
Good luck,
First, don’t use roadbed. As you put down the ballast, also sprinkle in some fine turf, like earth or a bit of grass. Here, getting some on top of the ties is desireable. If you put the track down and then bring the Scuptamold up to the edge of the ties, that will effectively “sink” the ties into the ground, which is probably the effect you want.
Thank you! That’s a great idea. Of course, I already have roadbed in place, but I can build up the yard terrain to that level.
Thanks, Cowman. Much appreciated.
Thanks, Oakhurst Engineer,
I have bookmarked your name and will do my best to remember to send pix of the final result.
Hi soofan: I layed all my yard tracks on sheet cork. After the track was down, I used a mix of fine cinder ballast for a little weight and various ground foam. Then a final weathering or darkening with black powder paint.
I used real dirt from my local mountains for ballast. I wanted a short line/poor line effect. Track is laid on raised cork roadbed believe it or not. I just dumped enough dirt in there to make it level and a lot of glue/water mix to sit it down. On top of the dirt went real rocks and some ground foam of various colors. Hope that helps. BTW Mr. Grampy, I love that shot!
I initially laid track on raised cork roadbed, and then laid down real dirt up past the cork to even with the tracks:
(This is n-scale, if it matters)
For the two tracks on the right, I’m modeling a logging area and so, following a bunch of photos from the 20s-40s, I used dirt up to and between the tracks as well, and then scattered a bunch of ws fine foam (“green grass” or “weeds” turf) over it, and then sometimes some more dirt, and more turf. I tried to keep it mostly dirt between the rails as the tracks are used, but it seems as if the veg will take back over any chance it gets.
The two tracks on the left were also on cork originally, and then filled with real dirt around them. On the far left, my spur to the mine is ballasted with fine cinders over the dirt (which lets some of the dirt poke through at the edges), while the abandoned siding second from left is heavy on the dirt, fine and corse foam.
I guess I could have laid the track directly on the subroadbed, but I like having the layers. Next time, I will definately paint my rails (not just the ties): that shinyness irks! For a yard, I’d probably go with sheet cork, paint, then thin layers of dirt / cinders / turf (depending where yr modeling).
You don’t mention scale so I’m assuming HO. Here’s a couple of suggestions.
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Where the main line gets to the yard, switch to N scale roadbed. Use HO roadbed on the “high main”.
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Before putting down yard tracks on sheet cork, increase the tie spacing and make a few crooked. Don’t forget uncoupling magnets at the drill end if you use them (maybe with clear bristles for axles to take up slack).
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Paint rails and ties the same as the ballast. Clean top of rails with Windex.
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Use a dark ultra-fine ballast or Sculptamold to cover the ties, clean out the flangeway with a toothpick, add cement with a pipette resting on the rail (don’t flood it), and add cement at the turnouts from the outside (none at points).
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Add details like oil spots, sand piles, growing grain, etc.
I was going to use Code 83 for main and Code 70 for yard, but stayed with Code 83 everywhere (not worth the hassle to me). I kept track spacing at 2" instead of adding finger clearance.
Just my 2 cents.
Skip the adding this or that, spike the rails directly onto thin panneling, poor mans hadlaid track, no ties required. I’ve never had the pleasure of blending commercial turnouts into this setup, so I defer to others for that aspect.
Dave
I placed my yard track elements directly on 1/8" vinyl underlay to keep it quiet on the 5/8" plywood below it. Then I sifted garden soil into the area, between the rails and outside them. I had mixed it with Plaster of Paris previously in preparation for wetting it and gluing it. I used a small round jam jar to roll the dirt flat. I used a light glue mixture to help fix the material when I sprayed on the glue. I covered the tracks for the spray part, and then removed the tape and used a ballasting glue solution dribbler to add the mix between the ties. This is an example of how it turned out.
This is a diesel servicing area, so there aren’t any extraneous weeds. I laid the track directly on the layout surface, with no roadbed, and ballasted right across the entire area.
Nick
These are excellent suggestions and exactly how I will proceed. Many thanks. I use Code 83 almost everywhere myself and it looks good to me. Why did you choose Windex?
This is the look I want. Incidentally, the photo is gorgeous. What focal length did you use?
John
Very helpful, McFunkey Monkey. I like the look as well. Thank you.
John
Very nice and the photo is first rate as well. Very inspirational.
Soo Fan, you would do us all a favour by either replying to each person using the quote function (reply to each post in turn, but click on “quote”) so that we know to whom your comments are addressed, or simply use the person’s name…such as, “Grampy, your photo has the look I want,” or similarly for others. As it is, I have no way to know for whom your comments were meant in your four successive posts. Just a suggestion…for clarity. [:)]
-Crandell