Page 1 of 2

How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 5:35 pm
by Manicouagan
Hello everyone,
I watched this video from Budget Model Railways several times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6KCIScEAfs
I just have one question: does it really work ? :oops:
Many thanks for all your answers.

Re: How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 5:45 pm
by Walkingthedog
Well I reckon that double sided tape cost more than a bottle of PVA. Also the ballast is too thin, doesn’t come up between the sleepers. The track doesn’t look like it is resting in the ballast. Waste of time in my view.

Re: How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 6:57 pm
by Steve M
Does it work?
No.

Re: How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 7:23 pm
by brian1951
The title of the video should be (How Not to ballast track) .

Re: How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 8:01 pm
by Mr Bones
+1 for all of the above replies ;)

Re: How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 8:26 pm
by Bandit Mick
Awful. And what's with the radio-active grass?

Re: How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2019 10:25 pm
by Brian
Looks worse than foam underlay. Don't follow it, its rubbish.

Re: How To NOT ballast The Track

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 7:29 am
by Manicouagan
Thank you very much for all your replies folks.

Re: How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 12:40 pm
by Mr Bones
I think that was unanimous. Ballasting doesn't have to be expensive. The biggest investment is time.

Re: How To Ballast A Layout For Under £5

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 1:19 pm
by Steve M
Mr Bones wrote: Fri Sep 06, 2019 12:40 pm I think that was unanimous. Ballasting doesn't have to be expensive. The biggest investment is time.
Agreed. Ballast can be bought very inexpensively but it can be time consuming. Many look for the ‘magic bullet’ of instant ballast but there is simply no substitute for the time honoured and proven method. Spread it, dampen it, dilute PVA, wait 24 hours, clean it.
T’ain’t difficult.