Dave the Busker Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 Cheers! I'll try and bear that advice in mind, hopefully it all goes well. I'm taking it all very slowly today, gluing small sections of track just now then testing when it's starting to hold but not set so much I can't adjust things. I'm about 3/4 of the way round with the glue. Hopefully start a bit of ballasting tonight, then I've got until about 5 tomorrow before I need to leave to play a ceilidh gig. Doubt I'll get it all done this weekend, but nice to make a start on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 First test section. In the very, very long term plan this section will be in a tunnel, so if I mess it up at least it'll get covered over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 My advice is once the ballast is wet or got glue on. Walk away! Wait till it’s fully dry or things can go bad very quickly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 Noted Rallymatt! Dundee v Cove Rangers will hopefully keep me occupied while the test section dries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 I’m sure your skills will do just fine! I think I had Dundee as a Subbuteo team… same strip as Sunderland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted April 29, 2023 Author Share Posted April 29, 2023 Left it to dry overnight, but I think I must have over diluted the pva/water mix as it still hadn't set this morning. Not really happy with how that section looked today anyway, so hoovered up and try again. Dundee drew, so the league's going down to the last day. Hopefully my team Ayr can get a result today and I can get the hang of ballasting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 I favour a pva/water mix 30/70. It can take a while to dry particularly if it’s not very warm. A drop of WUL in the mix helps the mix run into the ballast. A pre damping with water is usual, but as I am typing this I wonder if putting the WUL in the pre damping spray would be better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted April 29, 2023 Author Share Posted April 29, 2023 I just realised I forgot to try the washing up liquid in the first attempt. I've cleaned it up and trying again. It's a pretty dreich cold day here in Glasgow, so I'm going to leave it to dry until tomorrow. I'll get a feel for it yet grinning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntpntpntp Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 Ballasting takes practice of course. I fear you may have a few too many grains on top of sleepers and on the insides of the rail which may interfere with the flanges. Did you give the rails a gentle tap before letting in the glue? It literally bounces loose grains off the sleeper tops. I use approx 60/40 water/PVA ratio - thinner than I use for grass scatter etc. This is N gauge track post ballasting and weathering. Code 55 rail so also needs to ensure no grains on top of sleepers :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted April 29, 2023 Author Share Posted April 29, 2023 Yeah, I'm well out of practice. Going to be picking excess grains out for a wee while. I've pushed coaches round at speed and they seem to be moving freely, but I'll be trying to refine my technique a bit more for the next section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Tall Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 I know it will delay things a bit, but I used one of these I found makes life a lot easier for removal for us newbies hugging_face Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted April 30, 2023 Author Share Posted April 30, 2023 Second go at ballasting a section is still a bit messy, and I'll no doubt get better at it as I do more, but I've got something down and the train's running on it without any issues, so it's a start. grinning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted April 30, 2023 Author Share Posted April 30, 2023 Starting to get the hang of it, getting a much more gentle touch with the ballast laying spoon and not flooding the track with stones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Less than you think is a good amount to start with, it is looking good and it will come together as you get all the other bits done 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ntpntpntp Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 thumbsup yup, much better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted May 1, 2023 Author Share Posted May 1, 2023 The botched first attempt that set in great lumps like broken up concrete's been recycled in the factory scene. The oil drums and pallets I got from Bunter's Yard look great in here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted May 4, 2023 Author Share Posted May 4, 2023 Ballasting work continues, and this set of 20 cherry blossom trees arrived today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
South Coast Flyer Posted May 4, 2023 Share Posted May 4, 2023 Loving the urban feel on this, particularly like views between buildings and down alley ways onto other scenery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taunmarc88 Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Loving the springtime trees, I’ve noticed so many layouts doing a more seasonal feel recently and it adds something extra. Will you have some trees with leaves yet to open? I haven’t decided when to set my layout yet but I do like the ideas of yellow fluff for daffodils! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted May 5, 2023 Author Share Posted May 5, 2023 Long term (probably very long term), I might get enough seasonal trees that I can swap them round for the time of year. Cost is what's making that a long term ambition, it'll likely stay spring here for a while.(Always just coming up on Spring, but never quite getting there, just like the 08 shunter release date... joy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Dave, are you making your own or buying ready made trees? Making is easy with a few bought elements and way cheaper, I have made about 70 odd, for around £45 possibly less as still have some stuff left over Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted May 5, 2023 Author Share Posted May 5, 2023 I've been buying them, not sure how to go about making my own just now. Annoyingly, I've got Blink Bonny to sort out again first. It had been running fine for ages, then today it stalled when I went to reverse it. The wheels span for a moment without the loco moving, then it seized up. I think the wheels have come out of alignment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rallymatt Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Hmmm sounds very similar to what I had on my A4s.Trees are a doddle, especially for someone with your skills. 😁 I use woodlands Scenics tree armatures, pack of 70 £15, paint them, open shape out, tear some foliage sheet (WS again) and mould over branches, some let down pva, dab about, sprinkle some of the bits that fall off or blended turf and spray with some more watered down pva to fixobviously chose colourings not suit 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too Tall Posted May 5, 2023 Share Posted May 5, 2023 Or buy 60 7-9cm trees for £22 ... I CBA making them when there are easier options grinning blushI like the blossoms, adds a nice splash of colour.Not good about Blinky frowning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Busker Posted May 5, 2023 Author Share Posted May 5, 2023 Where are you getting your bargain trees from? grinning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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