Looking for best way to ballast Lionel Fastrack

I actually like the looks of Fastrack, but I went with Atlas for solid rails and less noise instead. However, I have seen several folks post pics of their layouts with Fastrack that they had ballasted with a similar colored ballast to the Fastrack. To me some of those layouts looked very nice and the track looked pretty realistic too, IMO. I should probably add that being prototypical is not one of my strengths, I know very little about the real rail roads. Also, as it is pictured, your layout looks a LOT better than mine!

Hello,

Here are a few threads about ballasting and weathering Fastrack that I bookmarked.  The Photobucket pictures are missing  from the 4th thread but some of them are in the first thread.

https://ogrforum.com/.../ballasting-fastrack

https://ogrforum.com/...d-ballasted-fastrack

https://ogrforum.com/...c/fastrack-balasting

https://ogrforum.com/...ring-lionel-fastrack

https://lionelllc.wordpress.co...ballast-to-fastrack/

Here is only one of many options.  Play sand to create the bevel and save on the amount of Brennan’s on top of it.  Held in place with white glue 50/50 in water.  I sprayed with isopropyl alcohol for wetting agent then dripped/drizzled on the glue.  Obviously a Xmas layout.

EDIT:  Your layout looks like it would take awhile to ballast.  One bit of advice helped me.  Do about 4’ to 6’ at a time.  The effort can get pretty tedious.

calsz06 posted:

Hello,

Here are a few threads about ballasting and weathering Fastrack that I bookmarked.  The Photobucket pictures are missing  from the 4th thread but some of them are in the first thread.

https://ogrforum.com/.../ballasting-fastrack

https://ogrforum.com/...d-ballasted-fastrack

https://ogrforum.com/...c/fastrack-balasting

https://ogrforum.com/...ring-lionel-fastrack

https://lionelllc.wordpress.co...ballast-to-fastrack/

Thanks for the last link.   That will be what i try.  Cheers

White glue on the sides of the track and table areas next to the fastrack.  Brennan's Better Ballast (original grey) misted with isopropyl alcohol. As Ted indicated:  take your time, allow ballast to dry and then vacuum up the loose material.  Use a small clean vacuum so that you can retrieve the the unused ballast from.

10 parts rubbing alcohol to 1 part India Ink is what we have used. Brush it on then go back and wipe off the surface. It will darken and highlight the roadbed area and remove the plastic shine that the track bed has. If it is not dark enough you can always go back and apply another coat or add more ink to the mix. You could also test a section of track first to get the mix you may like the best. We found it much easier to go back over the roadbed to make darker. It is much harder to go the other way trying to remove the stain.

Greetings,

 I'm using the "Tried and True" 50/50 Matt Medium/Water solution as well.   Spray the ballast with a generous portion of "Wet Water" prior to adding the 50/50 bonding mix.  You may want to cover your track with masking tape before starting the ballasting process.   My ballast flavor is Scenic Express  #16 Blended Ballast (Part Number SEO321).  It fits the bill nicely for what I'm doing.  Also, don't be afraid to "Weather" your track prior to ballasting.  I use a variety of rattle cans such as Krylon Camo Colors and Rust-Oleum Heavy Rust Oxide Primer.  Just remember, there isn't a wrong way to add scenery.  Look around and you'll be amazed.   

 Chief Bob (Retired)

J Martin posted:

I have a good sized layout and want to start making the Fastrack look a more real world.  Any suggestions?

Add some different earth tone colors to the base color in between the tracks and buildings and such - then add some terrain texture - and some trees

finally - add some ballast - I don't really see any reason glue the ballast down

The brennan's looks the best for a first attempt

HMorgan125 posted:

White glue on the sides of the track and table areas next to the fastrack.  Brennan's Better Ballast (original grey) misted with isopropyl alcohol. As Ted indicated:  take your time, allow ballast to dry and then vacuum up the loose material.  Use a small clean vacuum so that you can retrieve the the unused ballast from.

Where did you get that uncovered passenger platform? That looks really cool, and I have been trying to find one.

I'm guessing that platform may be scracth built, it is a nice looking piece.

Thanks Matt and Gunrunnerjohn.  The platform was scratch-built using a balsa wood sub structure and wooden coffee stirrers as the planking.  The platform was painted with acrylic paint and washes and weathered with grey and black powders.  The lights are from Woodland Scenics and are meant for HO scale.

I thought so, it fit too perfectly to be something off-the-shelf.   Nice job on it.

HMorgan125 posted:

White glue on the sides of the track and table areas next to the fastrack.  Brennan's Better Ballast (original grey) misted with isopropyl alcohol. As Ted indicated:  take your time, allow ballast to dry and then vacuum up the loose material.  Use a small clean vacuum so that you can retrieve the the unused ballast from.

I too use Brennan's Better Ballast. Very easy to work with and it looks great once it has settled down. My preferred method is to brush Elmer's white glue on the trackbed, 12 inches at a time and use spoon to put the ballast on. 

You can see how it looks in this video. 

J

I did a good 300 plus feet. You have a big job ahead of you. Good luck.

I used 4 different colors of ballast. The only staining I did (Because I use Fastrack)  was a mixture of 50%/50% water and black ink to tone down the gray track.

I also used paint markers to make the track rails look rusted . I did not rust the center rail.

It's all glued down with 50 50 water and Elmer's glue mixed.

It will be a PITA if I ever have to take it up.

Larry