A fine mist, indeed…thanks for posting, I enjoyed watching your progress.

As you said there are a million ballasting videos out there. One extra tip I found was once you’ve sprinkled the ballast use the back of a spoon to tap the rails. Almost magically it settles the ballast between the ties nicely.

Hi Simon! Bet you're glad that the majority of the ballasting has been done! It's a job I'm not really looking forward to when I eventually get to it! Your tip about filling the dropper wire holes with Blu Tack is a good one as I've had very vivid dreams where all of my ballast has ended up on the floor of the train room, glued to the carpet after falling through such voids! Lol! All the best, Ian.

Nice video, again.

Good progress Simon This little layout should look great when it's all finished Nick Australia

Hi Simon, nice work, i know it’s something people don’t like doing, ballasting, but I’ve got to say I’m looking forward to it, maybe it’s something I’ll change my mind over though, lol! I’ll be using my airbrush to weather it but I’ve seen some really good results using weathering powders or artists pastels scrapped into a powder. Looking forward to your scenics, cheers for now, John

My 00 layout is vastly over complicated, so much that I barely use half the track, just the main running loop. Next time, I am going for simplicity with the scenery being the important bit that I enjoy most anyway. Enjoying the TT120 layout Simon.

Think the yard area has to have a headshunt if you want to be able shunt whilst a train goes round the main line.

yep, I can see how that would be hard, less track. I am looking at it and adding more track. lol

Why don't you lay a cork roadbed beneath the track to give it more elevation?

Hi Si What programme do you use for your layout plans? Thanks, Steve.

Where can I buy these Hornby switches ? They look great , all metal unlike Tillig TT.

good video, I am still at the track laying stage. Did I see a big wobble as the engine went over the points after you and laid the ballast? Also which manufacture are the non Peco buildings?

Great video, quick question - what's the name of the track planning software you are using on the Mac? I have started to plan a TT120 layout on SCARM but prefer to stay in the Mac world

I've had some real trouble using Gorilla glue for scenic work like this. I've found it dries really glossy which has ruined the effect for me. Oddly enough, cheaper PVA glues have given a better matt finish. It may be down entirely to the mix ratio or any number of other things. But a warning to others, do a tiny test piece somewhere if you're ever unsure!

I can't wait for more of this series as I am planning to make a TT120 layout as well, though I don't have any experience with modelling, this will be a nice guide for me as I can get a basic idea on how to make a tunnel or something. Keep up the good series!

Hi Simon hope you are well, quick question for you, is the any chance you can measure your tt mk1s/pullman coaches for the height of the coach inc the track rails and sleeper please, just about to start a small project myself now. Thanks Andy

Ballasting is best done whilst consuming vast quantities of ethanol.

What software do you use to design your layout? And what are the other options on the market?

good vid thanks lee

Nice video. The hair sprayer looks an improvement on the old plant sprayer i have giving a gentle mist rather than a blast. When it comes to ballasting Everard Junction likes to use a blend of ballasts which I think gives a nice effect. You can also use different blends to give different effects/add realism as ballast varies in reality. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/e52fn9lj1NvNpmQ.html e.g. The ballast in an old siding compared to that in the station, or a section of newly laid ballast in an area that's undergone track maintenance. Weathering is also good for giving variation e.g. main lines, old sidings or stations/depots where you get a large amount of oil deposit on a track. For a small demonstration layout like this that may be a bit OTT though, unless you want to use it as an opportunity to try different looks. Another tip is to put a few bits of old track (it doesn't even have to be the same gauge) on any spare board offcuts you may have or even card board and trying different effects/practising. Then once you've decided on what works best for you, do it on the layout.

I'm sure you deliberately laid less track so you didn't have to ballast it. lol Seriously though it's a horrible job, I know there is a little hopper thing to simply ballast that you fill and run along the track. But I've only seen it in OO Gauge, early days for TT 120 though. What is the track plan software you are using? Thanks, looking forward to the scenery bit now. I find that really relaxing.