How to Glue Train Ballast
Ballast is the rock that fills the top of the roadbed around the railroad ties and below the rails. The challenge for a model railroader is to create this appearance in miniature. While the ballast of a conventional railroad is simply placed on the road bed the miniature ballast of a model railroad is usually glued in place.
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Things You'll Need
- Ballast
- Small hobby paint brush
- White glue
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Damp cloth
Instructions
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1
Select ballast material based on color and size to fit the look and scale of the model railroad. Various model ballast materials are available at hobby supply outlets specializing in model railroading. Mix ballasts of one or more colors to create a custom color unique for your railroad.
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2
Sprinkle the ballast material between the rails and on the along the edge of the roadbed outside the rails. Use a small paint brush to spread the ballast uniformly. Keep the edge of the ballast on the outside of the rails straight.
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3
Mix one part white glue, four parts water and one part isopropyl alcohol. Drip this mixture onto the ballast with an eye dropper or other small tube. Drip the glue on the ballast to the point it saturates the ballast but does not form pools of glue.
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4
Wipe off any glue that landed or spattered onto the rails with a damp cloth or sponge. Allow the glue to dry overnight. The glue should be clear when it dries and hold the ballast in place.
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Tips & Warnings
Make the ballast around the rail yard and depot darker than the ballast used in the open country. This would mimic the look of the dirtier ballast in areas with heavier traffic.
Keep the ballast clear of the inside of the rails. Ballast glued in place too close to the inside of the rail can cause derailments. Also keep the ballast clear of any of the mechanisms in the rail switches.
Work on a few feet of track at a time. The ballast placed earlier may be displaced by work on the later part of the project if it is not glued in place.
