Madras Switching Layout HO Scale

[mountaingoatgreg]

Just a little more progress.

I got the basic ground cover down on the modules and the ballast on the auxiliary track. Next will be static grass and grass tufts. I also need to get the rest of the buildings at least partially assembled so I can get their place on the modules finalized.

[faraway]

That looks very good. How did you do the ballasting of the left hand track? It looks to my like street running done with ballast only and the ballast is very even distributed. Are the rails still a tad higher than the ground cover?

[mountaingoatgreg]

Reinhard,

I was trying to figure out how to achieve this look without creating a giant pain in the a** for myself later. I was looking at a few things as to how to achieve this and I looked around at my available tools. I had been checking the gauge of a few switches using my NMRA gauge and a Micro Engineering track gauge, looking at them I had a moment of inspiration.

I placed the ballast on the track and using my fingers spread out the material as evenly as possible. I then used the NMRA gauge as a regulator using the switch gauge section between the rails, this side has the three prongs on it for checking gauges of switches and frogs. After a few passes over the track less and less ballast was being plowed out of the way. I then flipped the gauge over to the track gauge part and made sure it cleared the track. I also found that this set the track level just slightly higher then the ballast. I then wetted the ballast using a misting spray bottle to keep the ballast from moving, which further settled the ballast below the track level. This was then secured with a 50:50 mix of white glue and water. I ran a couple of cars over the track today and have a few spots I need to dig out with a dental pick, but it is very minimal.

[Mr Fixit]

I would probably err on the side of minimal use of your track gauges for such ballast work Greg as they are accurately engineered measuring devices and any wear will ruin their accuracy and purpose.
Can I suggest that you get some cheap plastic plaster spatulas or a similar size of plastic and using your track gauge as a template to draw the required notches and then cut them out using a dremel tool. This tool can then be used along side a small cheap household paintbrush to spread the ballast.
Mark

[mountaingoatgreg]

I should have specified, the NMRA gauge was an old MARK III I found in the bottom of a box of a freight car I bought, I have a MARK IV for gauging track. Again it was sitting there and I thought, hey that might work. I was also noticing the MARK IV do not have the three tabs across the top. I agree if it was my only gauge that I would be more careful with it and making a ballast spreading tool from styrene or maybe a brass sheet would be a good idea. I may just make one as it would be handy to have for doing ballasting like this again.

[Prairie Trains]

It would take a lot more than spreading a little bit of ballast to wear out a stainless steel NMRA track gauge.

[Mr Fixit]

It would take a lot more than spreading a little bit of ballast to wear out a stainless steel NMRA track gauge.

Maybe so, but is it a track gauge which is an accurate measuring tool, [and should be treated as such] or is it a ballast spreader?
Yes, you can use it to spread ballast, but then it might not be as accurate when the time comes to check out a track gauge problem.
It all comes down to proper use and respect for your tools, if you abuse them, then they dont work the way you want when needed.
I have unfortunately worked with too many "tradies" who push tools too hard and wreck them before their time is due. Net result is having to spend more money on tools than is necessary. Let the tool do the job it is intended to do.
I can do some amazing things with tools and sometimes I am rough with them, but sometimes operational requirements dictate that brute force is required to get the job done pronto. Other times a little bit of thinking time provides an alternative which is easier and safer, ie use mechanical advantage over muscle power.
Mark

[Prairie Trains]

The point is this is a very hard steel tool. If you are worried about this wearing out the tool you better not use it to check track gauge because sliding it down the track to check gauge would wear it out. NOT!!! This track gauge was made out of a material so hard that it would never wear out no mater how much it was used. It's not made out of soft brass.

Back in a magazine from the 1950s or 60s there was an article telling people how to use the NMRA gauge for spreading ballast and I have been using mine for that purpose for the past 40 some years. Just to make my point I took a brand new gauge from the store and compared it with a micrometer against the old one and there was absolutely no wear on the old one when compared to the new one.

[mountaingoatgreg]

Laid down a little static grass, just adding another level to the scenery. Next will be some bushes, shrubs and grass tufts.

[CSX_UK]

I just wanted to say that your website: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://oregontrunk.blogspot.co.uk/p/north-jucntion-free-mo.html">http://oregontrunk.blogspot.co.uk/p/nor ... ee-mo.html</a><!-- m --> has been really inspiring for me recently. Thank you.

[mountaingoatgreg]

CSX-UK

Glad you are enjoying my ramblings on my blog. The main reason I created it was to keep track of things I found online and help me when I am modeling. I will keep posting, as long as people keep finding it interesting.

[mountaingoatgreg]

I keep forgetting to put updates on this forum, but anyways, I have made some good progress with the scenery and ballast. At this point I am calling the basic scenery completed and will now turn my focus to adding some details and also finishing up the structures.

[MountainMan]

Looking good!