Ballast Drama

[tramcar trev]

I laid some open ballast track using some nice cream ballast aka fish tank gravel with diluted weather proof PVA as the bonding medium.... I was not to enthused with the colour of it.... A massive cloudburst washed all but the first layer of it away so obviously I had diluted the PVA tooooo much. Then I went to a local landscape supplier to see if they had anything more "basaltish" in colour. The Chap told me that has special gravel for model railways, yes the beez kneez 3mm screen 'blue metal' at the unspeakable price of (drum roll) 4.5 cents a KG.... I took about 10kg and the chaps says he dosen't want any money for it..... I have tried it by mixing it 1 cement :4 gravel dry spreading it then misting it with water....
Lets see it that works. Looks a damned site better than the cream stuff.....
I might add this is a mere diversion from laying the setts between the rails, its ok on the straight or around curves but cutting in at points is a real PITA...
Also made up a small section of wood block paving to embed in the roadway where the tar has peeled off....

 

[mickb]

Hi Trev
Have you checked the blue metal with magnet? So far I have yet to find any blue metal that is not full of iron and therefore magnetic. The dust and small pieces could cause havoc with electric motors.
Mick

 

[dunnyrail]

Trev not sure if it is availabe in your part of the world. But here we have a Cement Type Mortar caled POSTCETE. Basically it is a Cement Mix that you just put in a hole with a fencepost. Just pour in water and in 5-10 minutes it has gone off. Now I have used it as ballast, what I did was to mix it dry with the relevant ballast say your aquarium stuff. Then put in place with a brush. Fine mist with water and a drop of washing up liquid and wait for it to do its stuff.

The other benefit of this stuff is that it colours whaterever you are using Greyish so that you get better looking ballast. To be honest when I last used this method it was with as small ALPINE GRIT as I could find in the local Garden Centre.

Hope this helps.

JonD

 

[Rod Fearnley]

I remember using some water proof wood glue called Cascamite. (Waterproof once it had set up)
I used to mix it at a ratio of of about 6:1 Ballast to Cascamite. Mixing it in a sealed jar and giving it a good shake.

http://www.polyvine.com/category/show/adhesives 2nd item down page

 

[Gizzy]

I think Jon DunnyRail means Postcrete?

I've used Cascamite when balasting Hardyard. It has survived trips in the trailer to various exhibitions, but I can't vouch if it's water proof.

It's tough stuff though? I've also used it to fix a bridge on Krizzy's first guitar many years ago, and it's still fixed firmly despite being under tension from the strings....

 

[lone ranger]

I think Jon DunnyRail means Postcrete?

I've used Cascamite when balasting Hardyard. It has survived trips in the trailer to various exhibitions, but I can't vouch if it water proof.

It's tough stuff though? I've also used it to fix a bridge on Krizzy's first guitar many years ago, and it's still fixed firmly despite being under tension from the strings....

Hi Gizzy cascamite most definitely water proof when set I built an 18ft sailing cruiser with it never had a leak in the ten years I owned it.

 

[Gizzy]

I think Jon DunnyRail means Postcrete?

I've used Cascamite when balasting Hardyard. It has survived trips in the trailer to various exhibitions, but I can't vouch if it water proof.

It's tough stuff though? I've also used it to fix a bridge on Krizzy's first guitar many years ago, and it's still fixed firmly despite being under tension from the strings....

Hi Gizzy cascamite most definitely water proof when set I built an 18ft sailing cruiser with it never had a leak in the ten years I owned it.

Might have to try some Cascamite on a section of the garden railway.

At the moment, I just float my track on loose shingle, but I have heard of folk using a resin type cement dry mixed with chippings and then sprayed with water....

 

[bobg]

Cascamite when mixed (with water), is pretty much white, but when it dies it's more of a buff colour, so should 'hide' fairly well.

 

[Rod Fearnley]

"but I have heard of folk using a resin type cement dry mixed with chippings and then sprayed with water...."
Thats what I was trying to say Gizzy

 

[dunnyrail]

Yes that is right POSTCRETE my mistook.
JonD

 

[tramcar trev]

Yes that is right POSTCRETE my mistook.
JonD

It's called "Quickcrete" here..... Goes off faster than a pornstar.....
I modified my technique to make sure things "stuck" to the Hardie panel substrate. I sprayed, diluted as per instructions, Bondcrete on the substrate then applied the dry cement/ballast mix and misted with water. On the test "coupon" it worked really well and can withstand a bit of movement plus the water washes the cement off the face of the Basalt and the natural grey/blue colour can be seen. Time will tell I suppose... I'll use the same technique to hold piles of ballast and sand etc in my "Per Way" yard no doubt that will have to endure poking fingers etc........

 

[ge_rik]

Alpine grit + cement + sand, dry-brushed into place and then fixed with watered-down PVA for me. This has been in place now for four and a half years come wind, rain and shine. The alpine grit was 'pink' but the cement soon dulled it down.

As Paul says - permanent but not too permanent - it crumbles when then track is lifted.

Rik

 

[tramcar trev]

Here is my result, I've taken advantage of the cooler weather to scatter some ballast...​

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[Gavin Sowry]

Should get a good test with that rain headed your way. Hope nobody's been affected with all those floods over there. Looking at declaring a drought over here next week.

 

[dunnyrail]

Trev, that really does look the Dogs Bxxx. If there was oit a fence behind the layout it would be impossible to tell that it is not the real thing. Super job.
JonD

 

[tramcar trev]

I'm hoping in due course to get some backdrops painted that will hide the fence, One piece of fence has to be made removeable so that I can work on the other side...
But atm the fence lets the side down chaps it lets the side down...

 

[ge_rik]

Looks really good Trev - very realistic

Rik

 

[tramcar trev]

Maybe I could paint the fence in the interim a more subdued colour? I've been looking at having some backdrops printed ( from photos) but they are not cheap...... Or even use some of that "invisible" paint I've seen advertised on eBay....

 

[dunnyrail]

Trev,
A frend of mine nailed some Hardboard to his fence ( do you have that out there?) painted it blue and green to look like scenery. It looked ok for years before he moved. If you used external grade paint it may last well in your climate. His was in Harrow UK. It did bend a bit but hey ho. Was better than virgin fence pannels.
JonD

 

[Bredebahn]

I never used any form of glue on the old Bredebahn, and the same will apply to the BredeOstBahn. Use locking grit (Alpine, Road or whatever - 6mm or preferably smaller) and loose lay. Means the track comes up clean if you move house as well - as I know - and at £6 a foot or thereabouts that's well worth having.