I am a stage in layout building that has always caused me problems. I'm starting to work on scenery and need to merge scenery between buildings, landforms, and track. I haven't started ballasting yet, so I figured that before I screw things up, I would ask the forum for suggestions.

Thanks,

Mike in Mt. Carroll

My suggestion is try thisHow to Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery

I have that book, but somehow I just don't do it right. I've enjoyed looking at your layout pictures. I really like what you did with the old Lionel grain elevator. I also like the auto garage behind your Walther feed mill.

Did you ballast the track before or after you did the ground cover?

Mike, I've heard of before scenery and after
I have always ballasted after the basic ground scenery was laid down.
That is the soil not the greenery and I like doing it that way but you could try small sections to see what is best for you.

Nice job! I hope I do half as well. I sure do appreciate all the help I get on this forum. Some world-class modelers here, for sure.

for the compliment!I do the ballast after the ground cover and then I do some finshing Touches to make them work together. I also havefantastic layout scenery hope this helps!

Ray that's a beautiful photo. I know CSX Al has some great-looking ballasted track which blends into grassy areas as well. He'll probably chime in here eventually.

I imagine that the reason both before-scenery, and after-scenery ballasting works equally well is that this is how it is done in reality. If you think about it, the track and ballast is laid over top of existing real-world "scenery", and then the grass and weeds grow back over it and even in the middle of the ties after the ballast has been spread.

Good advice from Ray - just play around with a few sections and see what you like best. If it turns out unfavorable, it's not too bad to yank it out and start again.

John

I tend to follow what everyone else has suggested. Dirt first. The earth is always here first (let's hope ). Unless I'm doing a yard, or less used track, that is pretty much buried in the ground. Then I ballast and cover with dirt or cinders.

and then they add new ballast every now and then

But then mother nature adds more dirt every now and then.

John

I usually just pick one or the other and be done with it.

Regarding the question of whether to ballast first or run ground cover up to the tracks and then ballast:

Wherever the ground cover gets saturated by the wet water and/or glue mixture used for ballast, it becomes quite a bit darker - permanently. For this reason, I wind up having to go back and add extra ground cover to this area to re-blend it.

So, to me, it seems more efficient in the long run to ballast first and then run the ground cover up to the ballast after the glue mixture is completely dry.

Jim

After the ballast is laid the plants often overtake the stone. I tried to do both at once.

Rand

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Policastro:......Wherever the ground cover gets saturated by the wet water and/or glue mixture used for ballast, it becomes quite a bit darker - permanently. For this reason, I wind up having to go back and add extra ground cover to this area to re-blend it.........Jim

I agree with Jim in that the wet water stains any grass or dirt ground cover resulting in extra work. Once my track work is completed I ballast everything even before I do any mountain work. A friend of mine is a printer so I have an endless supply of chip board that I cut and lay over the track and ballast to keep the Duro-Lite off of it. Besides ballasting is with a doubt my least favorite part so getting it done early in the game is a good feeling.

On this one I layed ballast first then added the scenery. That way I could keep a clean ballast edge and not have stray ballast spread out onto the scenery. Seemed to be easier to me.

Interesting perspectives and variations. I have always preferred to do the scenery first and then add the ballast; then go back and touch up or add detailing where it might be needed. I just kind of like doing it the way it works in the "real world," where the scenery is in place well before the railroad or other man-made intrusion is added.

AMEN to that Allan it just the way it works in the "real world,"

quote:

Originally posted by raymanssr2:
Mike, I've heard of before scenery and after
I have always ballasted after the basic ground scenery was laid down.
That is the soil not the greenery and I like doing it that way but you could try small sections to see what is best for you.

Incredible work and inspiring layout. True Model Railroad Craftsman, no matter how many rails there are. Bravo! Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Louisiana Southern Pacific:
AMEN to that Allan it just the way it works in the "real world,"

In my experience this is true when new ballast is being laid down on existing trackage. However, I've also seen areas bulldozed and rights of way rebuilt. In those cases, the ballast is there before the vegetation.

If something works for you, use it.

Thanks to everyone that responded to my query. This forum has helped me so much! I live in NW Illinois. O gaugers are scarce and there are no local hobby shops that carry O gauge supplies, so this is where I come to learn. One of these days I'll post some pics of my layout, once the blue foam is covered!

Thanks again,

Mike in Mt. Carroll

Mike,
Don't wait too long. We always like seeing layout photos in all stages of completion!

Happy railroading,
Jim

I agree with Rand; the ballast usually ends up with weeds and grass growing up into it. I sprinkle dirt & green fine ground foams onto the ballast while the mix is wet, a tiny bit near the rails and a merging amount at the edge. This also helps curb the darkening effect Jim described if I've already scenicked near the trackway; I'll just sprinkle a little extra wherever it looks wet, then gently vacuum up the excess when everything is good and dry.

If you like weeds with your rails:





Jim

Very nice shot, Jim. Where'd you find the climber figurines?

Kageryu,
Scenic Express.

I like their climbers and their hikers/campers sets.

Jim