Adjusting Ballast In Turnout

As I mentioned in the previous post I had used foamboard inserts of a wrong thickness in a Peco turnout. Fortunately I discovered the problem before gluing the ballast in place. Making mistakes is an integral part of modelling and facing the faults always makes you a better modeller. My resulting remedial work to get back on track was quite simple: Once the surrounding ballasted areas were dry, I ripped out the three offending pieces of foamboard with scalpel and tweezers.  

The turnout has been reballasted after a faulty installation of foamboard inserts to save weight.

I removed most of the foamboard and only one insert was left in a cut-down state between the sleepers at the tongue fishplates. I gave the worked on areas between the sleepers some dark sand colour and poured a thin layer of ballast material. The ballast was adjusted with a brush and the turnout tested several times to make sure no sand obstructed safe working.

Three foamboard inserts before they were removed. I waited until the surrounding ballast was fully dry to avoid disturbing it and creating even more problems.

With the ballast positioned as wanted I added glue during a late evening work session before going to bed. Having fixed the mistake at the turnout, next task on my list is adding tufts and coarse grass to remaining ballastless track on the layout.

The turnout seen from above. I have missed a few spots where the foamboard show clearly between ballast and grass tufts. Perhaps caused by working too late in the evening?

Ballasting In Two Scales

Trying to get some simple modelling started, I have been ballasting in two scales and even painted and weathered four wagons. Some accomplishment - if it wasn't for the fact that the wagons are 1/87 scale and tiny!

Ballast and grass tufts are spreading around the brick shed for fuel and lubricants. Here in 'wet look' after application of glue/water mix.

In a previous post I mentioned my ambition of having the layout completly covered with a basic layer of ground cover and vegetation. Now only finishing work remains around the brick shed. At least for a basic 'almost finished look'. Adding small details and weathering will be an ongoing proces for a long time.

Having begun work at the right end of the layout I got the plastic sleepers painted grey and weathered before gluing foamboard scraps between the sleepers to reduce the amount of ballast needed. A method I have used with success before. In this phase I must have lost concentration as I used two types of board with different thickness. A few of the thickest type were unfortunately glued under the tongue section and didn't leave room for ballast. They will need thinning down before ballasting can continue. Apart from that everything went according to plan. Soon only a short section of plain track lacks ballast.

The original plastic sleepers of the Peco turnout painted medium grey before weathering.

Foamboard inserts being fitted between the sleepers.

Ballasting in progress. Obviously Nystrup Gravel wasn't bothered by the missing fishplates in the rail joint in the foreground. A proper industrial railway!

As a follow up from my summer's modelling I got four mine tubs in 1/87 scale painted and weathered. I glued two brass L-profiles to a piece of foambord, painted them rust and added a little ballast around. Foundations for the Soviet concrete fence added from pieces of plasticard. The tubs are gauged for 6.5 mm track so we are talking diminutive modelling here. A 9 mm track will be added in the foreground.

Four awfully tiny coal tubs painted and weathered. Capturing them on a photo almost more difficult than painting them. But a different challenge is welcome now and then.

It's good to be back modelling again, even if it is only adding ballast and grass tufts. Before too long my little layout will look a lot more harmonic with a full basic ground cover.