Bobot's N-Scale Train Layout
(February 2005)

I haven't worked much on the layout since 2002, but along the way I did manage to make, install, and stain light-weight hydrocal rock outcroppings and tunnel portals. Around Christmas 2004 I painted the roadways and lots and put down the ballast.

Painting the roads and lots were no problem, and went quickly.

The ballast was time-consuming, but all in all not as bad as I would have thought. Having the right concept and right tools make it easier. I put the ballast in an old plastic 50's-style ketchup bottle and cut the end off to allow pouring the ballast down the center of the track and along the side on the ties. I then used a combination of soft bristle paint brushes to brush the ballast exactly where I wanted it. It is a tedious and slow process, and a word of advice...try not to sneeze! The N-Gauge ballast is the consistency of sand and you need to be extra careful with random blasts of air...enough said.

Now the MOST IMPORTANT step!!

I made some "wet water" (a couple drops of liquid dishwashing soap added to a container of water) and put it in a 1980's-style hairspray bottle. I started by spraying up a couple feet above the layout and letting the wet water fall gently onto the ballast. I sprayed more and more water and got closer and closer until I really saturated the ballast with wet water.

Now I was ready to put my 50/50 white glue/water solution on. I used an eye dropper and slowly and carefully flooded the ballast with the diluted glue mixture. After a couple days drying time the stuff is pretty hard and fixed in place. I followed up with a track eraser to clean the glue and ballast from the rails.

Here's a picture of the rear tunnel portal after ballast was installed.

This is a cool picture I took when I was doing a test run after installing the ballast. The MicroTrains diesel looks pretty cool.

The next step will be painting the layout with earth cover paint. Should prove fun. I'll let you know...


August 2006 Update


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