Ballasting and painting track

[rrinker]

I'll have to try the tapping method. I pour the ballast on, and then use a small foam brush as I've seen recommended elsewhere to spread it out and even it up. Brush brush brush and there's STILL some on top of the ties. If I was super concerned I guess I would carefully clean off every tie with my fingers before gluing it down but I would rather complete this sometime before the next century - I shudder to think about doing my conceptual dream layotu which would need to be about 3-4x the size of this one - not that I have a large layout now, it's only 9x15. I have also seen it suggested to take the cheap foam brush and cut it down so it fits betwene the rails - I've been using it sort of at an angle. Maybe that would help. I don't think I'm using too heavy a touch, it's pretty obvious when you brush too hard - ALL the ballast comes out and gets swept along.

--Randy