Progress update: Ballasting

August 14th, 2008

I’ve completed ballasting track 1 and 2 on the front of module 1. I have done half of track 1 on module 2, and will hopefully get more done tonight.

The photos below show the progress so far, along with a few photos of a train on the tracks and signals.

I am going to add some detail bits between the two main tracks to make it a bit dirtier…looks a bit bare at the moment.

Right, here are the latest photos:

An overview of the ballasting progress so far…

Ballast

I still need to put an LED in one of the NJ International signals (the one with the black target), and I need to paint the target on the other signal (which is fully functional with an LED). I am hoping that the rumour from BLMA about their N scale modern signal bridge is true as that would work perfectly on this part of the layout…but will have to wait and see! In the meantime, I am using the NJ International signals for this section of track.

Signals

A couple of photos of a BNSF Autorack train going past the signals

BNSF Autoracks
BNSF and Signals

An overview shot of the layout

Overview of layout

Ballasting begins…

August 10th, 2008

I’ve finally got round to starting the ballasting. I have completed track 1 on module 1 and will be finishing off track 2 this afternoon and starting on the second module.

So far, so good. I’m impressed with the Arizona Rock & Mineral ballast I bought in Denver in May. The only tricky thing is fighting gravity, as it is heavier than normal ballast, so profiling is not as easy.  I’m having to put a layer of glue on the slope of the trackbed to hold the first layer of ballast, then using that as grip for the next layer.

But in the end it is ending up looking quite good. See for yourself in the photo below. More updates to come soon…

Track ballasting begins

Styrene apron completed…

May 18th, 2008

All the styrene has now been laid, and the apron is ready for painting and texturing. However, this will have to wait till I get back from Colorado in a few weeks as I am buying the concrete texture powder from Caboose Hobbies in Denver. I am also purchasing the ballast from them, so will be able to start on the track ballasting as well!

Here are the latest photos.

Next »