Ballasting

 The tools needed for this part of the process are quite simple.
A screw top jar to mix the adhesive, in this case PVA mixed 50/50 with water plus a couple of drops of washing up liquid, plus an eyedropper to surgically apply the mixture.
With the water misted on from a plant spray, the mixture is added. Having the washing up liquid added breaks down the surface tension, so as you apply the mix, it spreads out through the ballast hopefully leaving no high or bald spots.

P.S. Valentines Day today- DON'T FORGET!

Ballasting begins.

The tedious part now begins. I haven't found a quick way of ballasting so pour some on, spread it out and hopefully get it somewhere looking realistic.
Using a Granite ballast this time as I couldn't get the Magnesium type that I used on Hennock.
The lower shot see's the ballast spread out and the shoulder formed.
Next time will see the adhesive applied.

Ballasting.

 My least favourite part of the layout building processis ballasting.
After a lot of time spent getting the layout running, then it is covered with glue and grit and afterwards still ,hopefully, works!
These are the ingredients. Ballast- in this case 'N' Gauge granite, Mist spray bottle, Eye Dropper, soft brush and glue.
The spray bottle has a couple of drops of Washing up liquid added- breaks surface tension and helps the glue flow around the ballast without it lumping.

The eye dropper is for applying the glue, the brush is to spread the ballast between the sleepers and to create a shoulder at the track edge.
The glue I use is a PVA, sold cheaply in Poundland for mmm- a Pound! This is watered down with about 50% water and a couple of drops of washing up liquid to ease the surface tension- not too much or the whole lot disappears under a sea of bubbles.