Beginner guide to ballasting model railroad switches with amazing results!
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Published 2024-06-22
In this video I show you some basic tips that you can use to add ballast to your model railroad. These fundamentals can be applied to all forms of your track work and help you overcome the fear of ballasting turnouts.
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All Comments (16)
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Check out the video where I talk about the basics of laying track for your model railroad: https://youtu.be/KEur2zWkB6Y
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Absolutely excellent work and video you did Andy !! 👍👍👍 . I always learn from you 😊
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One little thing I discovered thats super useful. Either a small styrene tube or an old school coffee stir straw. Its a lot easier to blow out the throw rod space with a quick puff through the straw than trying to brush it out.
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I hated working with WS ballast. Found Arizona Rock and Mineral and never looked back.
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When you brought out the pick, I tensed up a bit because I thought of my dentist 😅
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Great video Andy! I'm glad you also decided to use a darker ballast. This is I always preferred darker ballast; (it was bothering me that too many American model train layouts, utilize a garish , Brite white, or light gray, overwhelming ballast). Thanks again for showing, some good ideas, including doing small sections at a time. Excellent presentation! Thanks again.
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Oh goodie, we now have 103,001 youtube videos on how to ballast model railroad track! 😂 Anyway, nice job on explaining and showing your method. I use a 1" foam brush to spread the ballast, isopropyl alcohol to saturate and 60/40 solution of elmer's glue to adhere. Like you said, there are thousands of ways to do this, people just need to figure out what works for them. As you demonstrated, making sure the moving parts still move once completed is critical. Looking forward to the weathering and adding details. Thanks, Terry
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Like your ground throw targets !
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Andy, the ballast job looks great. One tip, I go back every hour after I apply the glue for the ballast and move the switch points just to make sure they don't get stuck as the glue dries. -Tom
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Great video. Would love to know how you did the mechanisms for the rotating Milwaukee targets on the switch stands. I’m about to lay my first proto 48 turnout and want that.
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Awesome Video .... Thank You!!!! 👍
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Nice video Andy. I like your recommendation to take ballasting in small sections. Stay focused, get it to your liking before moving on.very helpful in building skills and making corrections if needed.
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NIce job. I like the color blends. What switch stands do you use? Or are they scratch?
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Please tell me where you found your switch signals. I need them for my layout
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Forgot ! Sorry. Is the Milwaukee SW1200 engine a Walthers unit ? Would you rate it good ? Thanks
