Ballasting sans glue

[Hutch]

Is that something that can be done? In the interest of wanting to change up my layout once in a while, I was just thinking of adding ballast without gluing it in place.

 

[santafewillie]

Noted modeler Dave Barrow just used loose ballast on one version of his Cat Mountain & Santa Fe RR.

 

[Hutch]

Thanks Willie, I'm going ahead with that! It's a plan, finally something.

 

[Smudge617]

Thanks Willie, I'm going ahead with that! It's a plan, finally something.

Just be wary how near your turnouts you apply loose ballast, get ballast into the switch and you could have a derailment.

 

[Hutch]

Thanks for the tip but you may have read that I'm also going sans turnouts at first.

 

[NorthBrit]

I have never glued the track down on any of my layouts; just lightly pinned down.
As for ballast? That has never been glued either.

David

 

[Hutch]

Pinned in foam?

 

[boatwrench]

I have duct taped on the bottom of the ties sticky side up. With the sticky side up the ballast adheres to the gap between the ties. Even now when building layouts still use this method under turnouts to keep the points freed.

 

[Mixed Freight]

Is that something that can be done? In the interest of wanting to change up my layout once in a while, I was just thinking of adding ballast without gluing it in place.

Consider using real crushed rock ballast. It's not as prone to making a mess when you sneeze, like crushed walnut shells might be.

 

[Hutch]

I have duct taped on the bottom of the ties sticky side up. With the sticky side up the ballast adheres to the gap between the ties. Even now when building layouts still use this method under turnouts to keep the points freed.

Interesting.

 

[Smudge617]

Interesting.

Sound like a good idea, bit of a bugger to get it off if you want to re-use it tho'

 

[Hutch]

It made me think of the masking tape and super glue trick. You lay masking tape down and then apply glue of choice and lay another piece of masking tape sticky side up over that. Releases very easily.

 

[Smudge617]

It made me think of the masking tape and super glue trick. You lay masking tape down and then apply glue of choice and lay another piece of masking tape sticky side up over that. Releases very easily.

Or you could just buy a wide roll of double sided tape, probably cheaper too.

 

[Hutch]

WS scenic cement claims to be water soluble. If that's true, I could glue my track down and remove it with a spray bottle of water.

 

[Smudge617]

WS scenic cement claims to be water soluble. If that's true, I could glue my track down and remove it with a spray bottle of water.

Yes, that would work, but if you've done all your scenery (even if you haven't) lot of time and mess to clean up, and you won't be able to do any work in that area till it's dried out.

 

[Hutch]

I can live with that... I think.

 

[Hutch]

I contacted WS about removing Scenic Cement and they replied with this. I think it's safe to glue everything down including ballast after reading this email.

Woodland Customer Service <[email protected]>​	9:38 AM (12 minutes ago)
to me

Richard,
Thanks for checking with us about moving or updating your layout.
To remove Ballast from the track, soften the Scenic Cement™ with warm, soapy water. If the glue is hard to remove, use denatured alcohol.
When adhering Ballast to your Track-Bed™ use this tested method.
1. Pour Ballast over track. Brush from rails and tops of ties.
2. Mist with Scenic Cement™ to wet the surface, and then saturate Ballast using an eyedropper or Scenic Sprayer™.
3. Clean rails before use.

Click here to view a demonstration of applying Ballast to track.
Diana
Customer Service | (573) 346-5555

WOODLAND®
Woodland Scenics ● All Game Terrain ● PineCar ● Scene-A-Rama
PO Box 98 Linn Creek, MO 65052 | WoodlandScenics.com​

 

[santafewillie]

Note that Scenic Cement is just an expensive form of Elmer's Glue All.

 

[Hutch]

Noted, thanx

 

[migalyto]

As willie stated Scenic cement is just a 50/50 mix of white glue/water and a couple drops of dish soap.

Lots of Woodland Scenics products are commercially available products put in their packaging and re-sold for triple the money.