Ballasting and Weathering Kato Unitrack

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Today I am showing you how I weather and ballast kato unitrack. Kato unitrack is a very solid base for a layout, and the track system is very well designed, but a lot of us want a more realistic look, so here is how I do it!
Pastels for weathering
amzn.to/300WRmH
Fine ballast (you may need a different type depending on scale)
amzn.to/2N7wyJh
Airbrush
amzn.to/2QdPw3F
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[@jvanamb]

Jimmy; Perfect demo. That's exactly how I have ballasted trackage for about 3 decades. Son it's about time you start Playlisting your content for ease of access. A list on MRR basics, Dollar Store Finds, Arduinos, Structure Building, and Weathering. As well as others yet to come. As always Great Job, SEE YA' DOWN THE LINE, Jim

[@tcepilot]

I found Vallejo Mud Brown to look great and spray very well.

[@robertrivera9162]

To help clean the top of the track CRC electrical cleaner works good so you could prevent corrosion but make sure you spray it on the towel or cloth you will use to wipe the track. Otherwise, the CRC might mess up your great scenery. Great tutorial!

[@joanneboutin7904]

Great Video, Thanks!

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

Nice video, Jimmy. I paint and ballast my Kato Unitrack as well. Once I do this, I find that my Kato track looks realistic and as good as any other brand of track. ...Roy

[@hastingsbnsfnscalemodeler8594]

N-Scale Union Pacific Evanston Subdivision agree Roy, your use of it inspired me to switch early on to Kato.

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

@@hastingsbnsfnscalemodeler8594 I just hope you're as happy with it as I am, my friend. ...Roy

[@Morganstein-Railroad]

I have been using Javek Sand and Stone mixture (Designed for HO and N scale) on my layout. In addition to your method with the alcohol, I add a minute amount of Clear washing up liquid to the glue mix, which helps the glue to penetrate even more thoroughly into the ballast. Again, it dries rock hard and looks great. After it's fully dry, I go over it carefully with a small electrical screwdriver to remove any ballast that has stuck to the tops of the rail ties (Sleepers) before running a vacuum over the whole ballasted area as a final precaution. As I work in N scale, a lot of locos have exposed gearsets on the trucks (bogies) and this prevents loose ballast.

[@dexterdog62]

Wetting the ballast with isopropyl alcohol before gluing will allow the glue to permeate the ballast more easily and evenly.

[@Wild-Dad]

Speaking of dollar store purchases, you can get airbrush thinner in those stores too. It’s called isopropanol alcohol - rubbing alcohol in other words. It works great in the air gun as well as cleaning up afterwards. It also helps with weathering as it will soak into wood very easily, taking the “water downed” paint with it.

[@jolliemark6294]

Looks good, but after useing anything that scratches your track run a nickel over the rails to fill the scratches this way you fill them in , those little nicks will geather dirt on the rails and then to your wheels....thanks for sharing....Jack

[@hastingsbnsfnscalemodeler8594]

J Olliemark excellent suggestion.

[@attackeagle]

Agreed, in a pinch you can also use the side of the handle of your exacto knife to burnish (take the blade out...)

[@dave3301]

Informative, Now I know what Kato track looks like ballasted. Thank you keep up the fine work.

[@DrewsTrains]

Great Video! Thank You for explaining the process so well!

[@hastingsbnsfnscalemodeler8594]

We need to call each other before we post, like a couple of women making sure they don’t wear the same dress to a party. I edited a Kato track video over the weekend and posted it tonight before I saw this video. Nice job...Anthony

[@andydundas2443]

Wow! Looks great!

[@silverfox5319]

Excellent video - very well explained. This is perfect for someone like me who, to say the least, is no expert in model railroading. Glad I subscribed to your channel.

[@marktien]

Thanks for sharing! It's very helpful to me ^^ I am a beginner from Taiwan~

[@erict.8190]

Good morning Jimmy that was good unique way if ballasting and weathering Kato track kind like what u did there

[@ictmainline9273]

Exactly the tip I was looking for.

[@newfenrisrailroad621]

Great video jimmy, hope my layout looks as good as yours as I’m mixing unitrack and flex together on my modules.

[@dacuzzz]

looks good thx for the demo... vinny

[@josepheiden2777]

Great video. Inspired me to ballast my unitrack. But I wish someone would do an in depth video on ballasting unitrack turnouts. Including the large 4 switch turnout.

[@Richblondin]

Great video. what are you using on top of the pink foam?

[@cruisinjoe]

Nice video but it assumes that everyone has an airbrush which I do not . I just paint the rails with a brush and that cheap brown paint from Walmart (thinned a bit with water or alcohol) Neatness does not matter as the rust seems go everywhere on the prototype . Wipe the paint off the top of the rails with a paper towel and call it done.

[@radiofry]

Tonight I finished painting my n scale track with a brush. Now my knees, back, and eyes are shot. Haha.

[@freescopesdad]

Jimmy, what do you do to airbrush the Kato turnouts and crossovers?

[@RDNTrains]

Nice job Jimmy. What is your technique for ballasting your turnouts? Randy

[@cdracing]

Hi. Im eric. New 2 hobby. TY, sir. Never forget 911.

[@DeStoreholmskeBaner]

Did you remember to add a drop of liquid dishwasher to you glue/water mix? Also, instead of IPA, you can use water and a drop of liquid dish soap. If you have a condensating clothes dryer, use the water from that, as it is better than ordinary tap water

[@LRSX]

Is the airbrush thinner acrylic as well?

[@LeonKolenda]

I have to paint my track in my living room, are there any fumes from using Acrylic paint in an Airbrush? I thought about doing each piece of track in my garage and then assembling it on the layout, what do you think about that vs laying the track and then airbrushing it?

[@bobkohl6779]

Except when ballastic gets into switch guts what a headache

[@fishfighter2]

Grate Video, but that water glue ratio looks off.......

[@Morganstein-Railroad]

Addendum. Looking at the glue mix you used, it appeared that you didn't mix it very thoroughly there Jimmy, and it looked like Jizz.

[@WillieBeard]

Is there a KZbinr handbook that says you have to say "...go ahead and..." every 30 seconds?

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

I believe the handbook states every 40 seconds 🤣🤣🤣

[@WillieBeard]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad Awesome...then you're WELL within compliance

[@mxferro]

Ouch!!!! Sand paper on rail?...no,no. A bright boy can easily knock off the rail top paint and no deep scratches.

[@TONY_FEZ]

Yes i was wondering about that...

[@cammacgregor9354]

I cannot remember seeing a tutoral so inconsistent and sloppy