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I have read various bits and bobs re 'Track Ballast and ask is it better to ballast before completing scenery and other baseboard fittings or ballast after. I believe both are used and wonder the pros and cons of each.

Thank you

John

Hi John,  because this is a bit of a boring job, I for one have done a little each night I was in the shed, usually the last 10 minutes!!

Cheers
Ron

Hi John,

My sequence is as follows:

1. Lay track on cork (or foam) and paint sleeper tops/sides.  Optional (for me anyway)- paint sides of rails.
2. Install point mechanisms.
3. Test electrickery and stock running.
4. Demarcate start of greenery with low-tack masking tape.
5. Put down cess/walkway (usually a finer material, blitz W/S fine for 30 seconds in the Moulinex herb chopper).
6. Lay ballast. Each to their own, I've got my method which works for me.
7. Paint rail sides.
8. Weather.
9. Remove masking tape.
10. Retest electrickery and stock running.

Now is the time to decide if this is what was intended re the track plan, and whether any modifications are required. Easier to rip track up now then after the scenery has been done. It's probably easier to work on track without bushes, trees and buildings in the way.

If all is well and good, onto the scenery. Cover the track with shop paper, cardboard cut to size or h/d cling film when working on the scenery. I like to work with corrugated cardboard (the thick type used for crockery when moving) as it provides a nice resting place for arms and elbows, pots of glue, bags of greenery, etc. If using plaster cloth get a disposable paint tray and work in that.

As Toto says, a foot or two a night soon adds up.

Nigel



 

Sounds like a logical workflow to me. I'd cheat though and only paint visible track sides.

The paint tray is a good idea for the plaster bandage as well. ………. You forgot the chicken wire though.……… Must have chicken wire.

Good cluck ……..erm I mean luck.

Toto

Hi John,

This is how I do it : http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=12116&forum_id=21&page=2#p213052

Cheers, Gary.

Thanks lads, plenty to digest
John