I’ve watched plenty of these things but this chap seems to have the most convincing system. I did like the reference to “wet water”. I never thought there was any other sort! Great session though!

will try that myself. thanks for the video

Like the Video Very Educational.

thanks for this info! I didn't watch any tutorials or anything how to ballast tracks, and came up with my own way to do it, and surprisingly, is very similar to the way that is shown in this video.

This was very well done. So many other techniques revolve around dumping ballast all over the place and saturating with glue. I think this technique is more precise, and better represents a prototypical ballast grade. I'm going to try this on my test track this weekend- thank you!

Thanks so much for the tutorial. I will be using it to do the ballast on my layout.

Great method for applying ballast with clear instructions.

Although the technique is not especially new, your end result is the best I have seen - perhaps you could come and do mine!

Nice work , i will be using your idea to apply to my layout . Just about to start ballasting. Cheers , great video . Greg Brassington.

I never knew that the ballast itself holds the track in place. I have been using hot melt glue to hold the track to the plywood in yards and around the turntable, and on foam roadbed. Most folks do not use cork anymore. There are much faster ways to do this than shown here. If you can find small-cell foam, like what is used for cushions, then cut a section 2" x the inner width of the rails. Spread the ballast and then run the sponge down the cross ties, and in one or two passes it is perfect, ready for the glue. For tracks entering a roundhouse, and for vehicle grade crossings in a yard, the prototypes COVER THE TIES with ballast, and the only way to do this quickly is with the foam "sponge" method I mentioned, used as a tamper to level out FINE ballast over the stringers and spread it evenly down the tracks. The sponge works great on the sides of the tracks as well.

Very good video on ballasting track. Well done!

Good method, well presented. I use a similar technique using the plastic spoon to distribute the ballast and my thumb and fingers to screed it into the tie cavities. Suggestion: paint (weather) your rail before doing all this, use Code 83 track rather than Code 100, and you'd really have something there.

There are, but this is the best method I've found for keeping the angle of the ballast profile "prototypical".

Very neat.

👍

So no glue residue on top of the ties, inside and outside of rails?

I thought my way was a long way to do it but at least my way is far less messy and is less likely to fail.

Thanks for the info!

Thank you for making the laying of ballast so easy. Your instructions are clear to follow and the results speak for themselves! I have a way to go before I lay ballast. What ballast did you use?

This was a club layout my dad (the one in the video) was working on. He weathers the sides of his home layout by airbrushing the sides a rail brown color.

I like your method and will use it on my layout. Did you get your ballast from Woodland Scenics? I'm trying to decide between fine or medium ballast. In fact,I may use ALL WS products for scenery,and buildings with exception of my grain elevator which is going to be from Walther's line of products.

Great ballasting! I just wanted to know if you used woodland scenics gray, or woodland scenics gray blend.

I think that's the easiest way I've seen for ballasting flextrack. For those of us hand-laying track, it's even easier... Ballast the ties before spiking down the rail, and use a metal straightedge to shape it.

what if glue gets on your tracks will it ruin the current?

Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about fine ballast, but this is the way to do it! I

I'm having a problem with my ballast. When I rub the ballast in with my fingers, it leaves a gray residue on the ties themselves and it looks horrid. Yours look perfect! How do you get rid of that gray dust-residue substance?

When u put tje 50 / 50 glue down on the ballast, when some of the glue gets on the rails ( matal things the train runs on ) will that affect the conection between the train and the track? So that it wont run?

Is it a liquid residue or a chalky dust? I don't know about any liquid residue but if dust is appearing, try slowing down when running your fingers across it or perhaps spray the "wet water" solution on beforehand. I hope this helps!

Yeah, the glue will leave a residue that can be easily removed by running an abrasive track cleaner over the rails.

why wouldn't you weather the sides of the rails????

Yeah that's what i meant. Thank you.

Woodland Scenics Medium Ballast: Gray.

How long do you wait for the glue to dry?

What secures the cork to the table?

Pretty cool to see this technique, but I have to be honest.. I, personally, am not a fan of the incredibly neat look. It looks a little too much like EZ track that you'd use on your first train set around a Christmas tree. Plus, while it's interesting to see this technique, it seems like it makes it exponentially more difficult than just dumping it and shaping it up.. plus, I love the look of a little over-ballast, where you may even lose sight of some of the tie, or some ties altogether.. but that's just me. The greatest thing about this hobby is that everything right down to ballast style and color, you can make your own. There are no rules.

Why dont you cover the track?

What is wet water?

Be a little more specific. Do you mean, "Why don't you protect the rail from the glue and mess?" Because the glue is easily removed with a rail-cleaning block.

hello, what kind of glue used ?

Wet water. Where can I get this?

does this work for dcc trains

Not to be so rude. But isn't that some sick way of ballasting the track? Are there other ways?

Though this is a good technique for modern ballast formed by a spreader it isn't representative of typical steam era ballast and totally wrong for 19th century ballast.

don't mumble!

Having only ever known water to be wet your point was😂