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Post by steeve on Jan 23, 2019 20:36:10 GMT 1
On the oo/ho front has anyone experience of using cork or foam underlay. For my previous layout I simply pinned the flexitrack to fibreboard, slopping a load of grey paint underneath before pushing the track and pins fully home then sprinkling grey "sawdust" type scatter on top. This was great for holding the track firmly in place but did not really give a raised ballast look. I am not a fan of the soft foam rubber triang-hornby-peco style but have been considering either cork or the hard foam (as per woodland scenics). Cork sheet can be obtained relatively cheaply, and simple enough to cut into strips if not bevelled. In terms of scatter is there a readily obtainable material that looks more like scale gravel? (clay cat litter is mentioned elsewhere but won't the granule size be too big?)
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Post by longchap on Jan 23, 2019 23:34:08 GMT 1
Hi Steeve,
I used 3mm cork tile for 4mm scale, cut with bevelled edges as track bed, which forms a good looking base and shoulder for ballast. Cheap rolls of cork sheet can tend to crack and break up.
I find 4mm scale ballast looks far too large and so mix it with 2mm for a better scale appearance, fixed with diluted PVA with a drop of washing up liquid for better flow. This applied with an eye dropper to flood the ballast, not a spray bottle, as it distorts the neatly placed ballast and plays havoc with your pointwork. Other methods work for other people, but PVA keeps the ballast stuck fast, as you don't want it getting into loco motors and gear sets. Having two cats, I would never use cat litter for ballest. It's too soft, crumbles easilly and gives off lots of dust!
Take lots of time and care when ballasting pointwork. Tamp down well and check moving rails are clean and move before gluing. Always test pointwork before ballasting, as lifting set track after gluing is a right pain!
Have fun,
Bill
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Post by chabanais on Jan 24, 2019 11:46:39 GMT 1
Hi Steeve,
Nice reply from Bill, only one thing to add, the cork itself is sold in France as flooring underlay, and is available in lots of different thicknesses - I use 2mm and it works well for both shouldered and flat track profiles.
All the best
John
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