Thank you.

I enjoy watching you build your layout.

Michael_Hohn
CNE1899

The ballast is Woodland Scenics Medium Gray Ballast. Thus far it is working well. It is what I used on the previous layout.

Tom,
The platforms look good, nice height. The ballast looks good too, I like the color. I was wondering what brand as well.

Scott

Tom,

The ballast and platforms look very good.

I'm wondering what brand of ballast you are using. Is it working well?

Mike

Here are the painted foundations.



Foundations glued in place.





Station Platforms in place temporarily to see how they look. I will attach them permanently once the scenery around them is done.





Next is making the station building foundation. I need to figure out the exact location for the station building and the roads around it. For the roads I have the Walther's Asphalt Street kit. Never used it before but I am willing to try.

I finally got to the ballasting. Here is the inside track. The wood is preventng the ballast from getting into the area where the station platforms will go. Shot taken not longer after the glue mixture was applied.





Glue has dried and wood is removed.





The outside track track's turn





Outside track after the glue dried.





Next up is placing the station platform foundations.

Tom,

Nice job on the track weathering! Thanks for sharing the idea of using the paint pens as well.
The foundation technique looks like it works well, I'll keep it in mind for the future.

Scott

Or maybe wax paper at the footer edge....not sure.

How about using that ruler in the photo or a strip of material pushed up against the cork to keep the ballast from creeping where you don't want it. Maybe a piece of painters tape or two sided tape might work. One the ballast dries from gluing, just peel up the tape, and the undesired ballast comes with it ??? Just a thought.

Fifth "Dave" to the right

I read an article in a recent Model Railroader that talked about making foundations for structures as a way to make them fit better into the scenery. After thinking about it and knowing I need to raise the passenger platforms I decided to give it a try. The article recommended three materials to choose from; wood strips, foam board, and plaster with or without a façade. For my purpose I chose the foam board.

Using the base of the platforms I traced the outline and cut the foam board. The type of board I chose required two layers as you can see.



Since there are four platforms I had to cut a total of eight pieces.



I had to cut out for the stairs in two of the platforms.



I placed the boards and the platforms and checked the height against a passenger coach.



Checked to make sure the cuts for the stairs were done correctly. When the foundations are in place I will use scrap to fill in the gap.



The platforms are too far from the rail. The little plastic people would have quite a jump to board. Therefore I have to remove some of the roadbed edge.



All the roadbed edge removed for the platforms.





Test of the platform location.



Next I need to paint the foam board black. I also need to figure out a way to keep the ballast out of the area of the foundations. I don't want to set the foundations until the blalast is in place as I don't want it spilling onto the foundation and creating problems with setting the platforms.

Those pens are definitely something to consider the next time I have track weathering to do. Thank you for the photos.

Mike

Rob, They are a paint from best I can tell. They are similar to some paint pens my wife bought that I have used to color handrails on a locomotive and paint street lines. One thing the track and ties beat the daylights out of the points. I destroyed the one I used for the ties and need to replace it. Woodland Scenics does give an extra in the package but does not sell replacements. I did find them on Amazon for $8.00 for a pack of 10.

Hello Tom. I've not heard of those paint pens before. Certainly have made a difference to the track.
So are they actually paint, or some sort of texter? Maybe similar to furniture touch up texters.
So how did you find they worked., and can they be painted over, to vary the look ?

The next step is weathering the track.

For this I am trying something new. I am using Woodland Scenics Tidy Track Painter Pen. For the side of the rails I am using Rusty Rail and for the ties Weathered Tie.

First section I tried with both the rail and ties weathered.



Next is a section where just the rails are done alongside an untouched section.



Here is a section with both the rails and ties done against an undone section



Lastly an overhead shot showing the weathered track on top and unweathered below.