Ballasting Track

       Figure 1                                                    Figure 2                                   Figure 3
         
To start ballasting your track on your model railroad, first make sure the surface where the ballast will be applied is clean and ready for the glue to be applied to the  roadbed and sheeting, (See figure 1).  Next apply the glue to the roadbed with a brush or with a eyedropper, on both sides of the track, use some type of model cement or landscaping cement, they work the best, (See figure 2).  Third apply a thin amount of ballast on top of the cement or glue and let it dry for the manufactures recommended drying time, usually 10-24 hours, it depends on the type of glue and the conditions, (See figure 3).
 More first coat ballast pictures

           Figure 4                                                                           Figure 5
     
                    Figure 6                                                   Figure 7
     
After the first coat of ballast has been applied brush off or vaccum the excess of lose ballast up, so that you can put on another coat of glue and ballast for the finish coat, (See figures above). Only apply a thin amount of ballast it takes less cleanup then. And your done with your ballasting.  Make sure you cover the switch machines and anything that can be wrecked by the ballast, if you do not cover these types of things when you ballast they will not operate properly, (See figure 7).


 Tools Used                                 Color of Ballast
                                                                  
 Glue Used


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