Videos & Photos Videos Series Cody’s Workshop Cody’s Workshop: Episode 17 – patchwork ballasting

Cody’s Workshop: Episode 17 – patchwork ballasting

By Angela Cotey | July 17, 2014

| Last updated on November 24, 2020


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This episode of Cody’s Workshop migrates to the MR&T, Model Railroader magazine’s HO scale layout, where Cody shows how to install a prototypical, but infrequently modeled, section of patchwork ballast along a two-track main line. He also demonstrates a practical application for a new paint marker and tool kit used to stripe roads and highways. As always, Cody answers as many of your questions and comments as this jam-packed episode will allow!

One thought on “Cody’s Workshop: Episode 17 – patchwork ballasting

  1. thanks Cody will need to replace my glue but I’m sure it will work for what I’m doing. Will need to be careful I have several switches on the layout and I don’t want to glue them shut.

    Pro Tip: When ballasting turnouts or gluing them down keep the glue and ballast away from the moving parts of the turnout those being the points, the heel joints, the control rods, the wheel guards, and the frog. Any glue or ballast in this area will jam the turnout and you can weld the points shut and it will not work. Before you ballast make sure you place tape on these components and disconnect the power supply from the motors or they will not work. When applying glue use pipets and work from the outside in not the inside out like Matt from Woodland Scenic said in his video. Also Never Use the Scenic Sprayer on Turnouts! the spray glue will stick to everything and can weld the turnout shut so use the alcohol first then add the glue and let gravity to do the rest. Add the layers and wait for the glue to dry 12 hours before you detail around it to prevent the ballast from cracking.

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