Ballasting is under way. Since the rail is not on the ties it is much easier to put the ballast down.
Pic 1- spoon out ballast down the ties. This is Woodland Scenics Gray Medium.
Pic 2- Use a Brush to distribute the ballast evenly between the ties. At this point I am only interested in apply the ballast between the ties, the Slope of the roadbed will be done later.
Pic 3- I slide a metal block across the ties to insure all ballast is below the tops of the ties. I also tap the ties with this metal block to settle the ballast.
Pic 4- Apply a generous amount of diluted Mat Medium/ wet water. I mix it in a small Elmer's glue bottle.
After the Mat Medium dries I go over the ties again with the metal block since there is always some ballast that floats up onto a tie. I'll go over all the ties again just before any rail is spiked and then vacuum to ensure that no ballast gets under a rail.
Pic 1- spoon out ballast down the ties. This is Woodland Scenics Gray Medium.
Pic 2- Use a Brush to distribute the ballast evenly between the ties. At this point I am only interested in apply the ballast between the ties, the Slope of the roadbed will be done later.
Pic 3- I slide a metal block across the ties to insure all ballast is below the tops of the ties. I also tap the ties with this metal block to settle the ballast.
Pic 4- Apply a generous amount of diluted Mat Medium/ wet water. I mix it in a small Elmer's glue bottle.
After the Mat Medium dries I go over the ties again with the metal block since there is always some ballast that floats up onto a tie. I'll go over all the ties again just before any rail is spiked and then vacuum to ensure that no ballast gets under a rail.
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