scenery

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

i am new to the hobby and currently working on my first layout its a 4x8 based on the maine central rr i was wondering if any one could give me some tips on making scenery specifficly apllying ballast and ground foam. thanks

2

The standard practice for ballasting would be to spread it thinly, tidy up with a small dry brush, and use an eye dropper/medicine dispenser to apply a 50-50 mix of PVA glue and water. Many people add some washing up liquid to it [just a drop] or else pre-wet the ballast with some very dilute detergent. I’ve never bothered [:)]

Ground foam can be secured with the same dilute glue, or even full strength glue as I use, but apply the glue first, then sprinkle the foam on top. Don’t roll it or churn it up because it’ll go hard and unnatural. Get a couple of different colours and intermingle them for better results. Avoid getting glue on top of the foam. I’ve found ground foam looks better over brown soil colour rather than green.

I’m sure there will be plenty more suggestions.

Mike

P.S. I like your choice of railroad [:)]

3

Hi PCC,

Since you are new and looking for tips, can I suggest a quick trip over to http://www.mrscenery.com/ to Dave Frary’s web site. I used his DVD’s and books extensively when I got started and found them to be excellent sources of tips and techniques. You can get the scenery book for a little less on Amazon.

Hope it helps.

4

pcc:

Ballast - Protect anything you don’t want to get ballasted with tape, such as switches.
Spread the ballast along the track, keeping it away from moving parts of switches (especially points). Dampen the ballast with a gentle spray of weak dish soap-and-water solution - a few drops of dish soap to a pint or so of water should do. When the ballast is thoroughly wetted, apply thinned white glue with a medicine dropper, letting it soak in. Try to stay away from the rails with that glue. When everything is dry, brush or vacuum away the excess ballast, and clean the rails. Scrape off any spilled glue with a razor blade, and finish in your usual way.

Ground foam - Paint the surface a dirt color. When dry, spread a coat of thinned white glue. Sprinkle on ground foam with a sieve or shaker. Let the glue dry.

5

thanks for the tips guys

6

some people don’t ballast the switches (turnouts), instead they paint the roadbed under them the same color as the ballast. This way they don’t have to worry about getting ballast and adhesive in the moving parts.