Ballasting Ideas and Inspiration Needed

B A L L A S T.

My thoughts would be to add a couple inches around the edge and finish off nicely. Since it wouldn't have to support anything it should be easy. Also, sometimes people use ballast that is too big. If the ballast is as big as the head on an O scale person it's too big. LOL

Raised fascia.  Note the fascia rising above edge of the layout by about 1".  It will be in place around the entire perimeter of the layout.  That's what I will use to:

1. Keep ballast and scenery material from spilling off (it will be glued, but...)
2. Keep trains from taking that 50" dive to the floor (I pray it never comes to testing it).

George

I agree with the raised fascia idea, but I think it will be too close and engine overhang will hit without 1or more spacer strips. I’d try cutting strips of material thin enough to bend along the curve. I’d add as many strips as needed to get enough clearance.

I second the idea to add a few inches to edge and a raised fascia.  This  would provide for raised fascia without the engines bonking the fascia, for ballasting, but also might keep the engine on the table if there is a derailment on the curve.

Bill

Step one: figure out how to add an extension.
Step two: think about a facia for the entire layout, that will be helpful.
Step three: choose a better layout builder next time.

#sigh

Thanks everyone. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Jeremiah, can you add some cleats on the bottom that stick out far enough to add 1-3" curved pieces on top of them to extend the curve far enough to ballast and add the facia?

@DoubleDAZ posted:

Jeremiah, can you add some cleats on the bottom that stick out far enough to add 1-3" curved pieces on top of them to extend the curve far enough to ballast and add the facia?

I'm going to try and see if I can either use cleats (which will work, but I'm afraid will be ugly) or use the same pocket screw method that's in place everywhere else to add an additional three inches onto the edge. I'd prefer the latter, may have to settle for the former.

I would do the cleat idea also, but I would add a edge to it since this is an outside curve and just asking for a track to floor derailment accident,  I added a raised edge on  the inside curve that is over the stair well on mine, never would have thought I would need one until a GP9 took a flyer down the steps.  On legendary John Armstrongs empire, there was a similar situation with a raised edge that vistors would like to stand at and rest their arms on.  He added a scale chain link fence with the vertical supports made from needles.  You only rested you arms there once, and only for a very short time.

@CALNNC posted:

...until a GP9 took a flyer down the steps.

😬

If the pocket holes don’t work, just double the extension to 2 layers, the bottom layer on 1-2" wider on the inside curve so you can attach it underneath the layout.

I agree with Dave that making a curved plywood sandwich with the lower piece wider than the top on the inside, to attach to the layout from underneath (and then adding a safety fascia if you're so inclined) is the best way to go.

However, if you're not concerned with potential flying trains and adding a fascia, the easiest way would be to just temporarily glue/tape some semi-stiff cardboard paper around the outside edge to keep ballast from falling off the layout as you apply it and then ballast and glue and remove the cardboard. I think there's enough room on the outside to make it look presentable.

If you do go this route, put some wax paper on the inside of the curve first to keep the glue from sticking to the cardboard. 

@J.Dooley posted:

(Very) long story short, I commissioned someone to help me build a new layout, and they messed up and put the double mainline curves way too close together, necessitating some on-the-fly changes. One of the results of those changes is that the outer-most loop of track comes right up to the edge of the benchwork, and I'm trying to figure out what the best way is to be able to ballast the track in this situation. The only thing I can think of would be to put a raised lip around the outside to form an edge.

Since y'all always have amazing ideas, I figured I'd ask. If this was your layout, how would you handle it?

A look at the structure underneath would help. If you have beams then just add extensions and extend the top.

Or you can screw extensions through the existing top and then add new tops. A cantilever needs about a 2:1 ratio.

I think the layout will look better with some added bench and you wouldn't want a shirt or an arm, etc to catch the pilot overhanging the edge.

Adding a fascia will give a nice finished appearance to the layout too. Keep the top about a 1/2"-1" higher as a ballast stop.

Bob

First thing i thought of was the cleat like Dave said but there are a few good ways to do it all with minimal "pain".