MODEL RAILROAD: Ballast Kato Unitrak & Urban Scenery!

www.djstrains.com
ABOUT THIS VIDEO: This video covers info about:how to ballast kato unitrak and make urban scenery
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🕺🏻ABOUT DJ: DJ is a locomotive engineer for CSX Railroad since 1999. He has built dozens of layouts, gave presentations for model railroaders, is a KZbinr, licensed drone pilot, and a great father.

[@EL-nc1cs]

Hey great hobby contributions DJ!!! Keep sharing, we all look forward to all your future segments. I've got a few tips I'd like to share with you and all from a 40 plus year veteran of the model RR hobby. - First pre-weather all your track first (outside)!! Use spray rattle can Rust-Oleum Camouflage earth brown. - before you spray the track, run a light bead of chap-stick along all the rail tops. that will make it a lot easier to rub the paint off the rail heads. - Why torture yourself applying thick globs of glue on that ballast?? I use a dry powder adhesive mixed with the ballast first then spray your water all over and it works great. Its a product from the UK called Ballast Magic from DELUXE MATERIALS. Get it on ebay. - Later you can come back and weather & high light your track with acrylic paint washes. Try it out DJ, good luck!!.

[@CSXGP38]

Not sure if I've mentioned it previously, or if you've seen/tried Ballast Magic. It's a powder adhesive that you mix in with your ballast. Makes ballasting much easier and certainly less messy.

[@djstrains]

I have some and will try very soon!

[@IMRROcom]

Still having fun, you are.

[@Eric-sn4qz]

Outstanding. Besides CSX, Amtrak is a fav. Love the late 70’s early 80’s Amtrak. Maybe an Amtrak vid in the future? Thanks again.

[@djstrains]

I am organizing my footage for that video.

[@tonykane8866]

I have just used the isalprola alcohol 70 and Woodland scenics cement works great. Keeping it simple. O yeah . And if put a lil to much glue i would just hit it with a Sprinkle of what I was putting down and looks good 👍 couldn't ever see if there was ever to much . Keep rockin the free world 🌎 DJ !

[@tonykane8866]

Ok fixed some verbiage. Lol

[@upmodeler8321]

Thank you DJ! This helped me out for my urban area!

[@DeathByFishing]

Thanks for sharing. I love watching things come together.

[@djstrains]

Me too!

[@colnagocowboy]

What i need is to rewatch your roundhouse video. I want to model a distinctive roundhouse with older and newer sections.

[@UnionCountyPhotography]

Hey! I use Kato N Scale too!

[@rickrodrick1978]

Not important in the larger scope of things but it might be helpful to note that the Aileen's Tacky Glue you are using is not the same as White Glue (like Elmer's). The two glues have different properties (thickness, set up time, "sticky-ness," intended use, etc.) that can make a difference when modeling.

[@djstrains]

I have been refilling this bottle with elmers for about a year already. Perfect size bottle, and I have gallon of elmers in closet still, lol

[@skerbs7755]

Thanks again for another great video! After watching many of your videos I am finally going to try sculptamold to make my scenery look more natural. Thanks for the inspiration to try new things!

[@djstrains]

Fantastic!

[@jtmonsman]

Love this! Crazy story- today, my son demanded that I turn around to watch a train that was crossing after we had passed. It was a Norfolk southern. Very common. Followed by three (or two perhaps) hopper cars. And…… an old conrail N11 caboose! He’s never seen a caboose on rails. I hadn’t seen one since the 90s. That 4-5 car long train sure was awesome! And slooooooooow. :-) made my day!

[@djstrains]

Love it!!

[@jimbos3421]

Really neat your featuring Amtrak! Caught the eastbound Lake Shore in Conneaut Oh. about a month ago, twin diesels + 8 cear

[@seanthornton1659]

@djtrains awesome video I enjoyed watching your videos from modeling railroad and the drone videos keep up the good work my friend

[@djstrains]

Thank you very much!

[@whatsitaboutwithphilcraig6661]

Coming on DJ nice low camera shot on the layout too. I made the same mistake on the ballast too took me ages to resolve it , should have done small sections 😂 well I’m still learning. Thanks for sharing your quality content DJ👍

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

You always do great work my friend, still watching cheers 🍻🍺🍻🍺 KC Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺👍😎

[@djstrains]

I am so thrilled to have a viewer from that part of the world. Have a great day!!!

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

@@djstrains my pleasure Thankyou for your kind words Cheers 🍻🍺🍻🍺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@1babysag]

I love Amtrak! I am so happy to see how this layout is progressing. I love that you reveal your mistakes because it makes it more realistic. No one else admits to errors and that is what makes me and probably others more intimidated. I am more willing to give things a try because of your energy and encouragement. Keep up the good work. How do you find the time given your busy schedule as a real railroad engineer.

[@djstrains]

I am on an extra board, so I fill in when others call off. I also wake up between 5-6 am and try to be productive in the mornings.

[@metrotechguru5863]

Very nice. Thanks for sharing your techniques.

[@djstrains]

Glad you liked it!

[@ranitghosh2831]

Very helpful DJ! Thank you!

[@djstrains]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lionellance]

Awesome update.. like Norfolk southern..thanks for sharing and keep up the great work..Lance

[@donaldkormos5529]

Thanks DJ !!!!

[@scottyhotty111]

Hey mate. Loving the vidoes. Been following you for a few years now. Orignally from England and now living in Australia and have picked up so many tehcniques and informstion on how the US trains operate over the years. Thanks for another amazing Video. Think its time for me to use some Kato unitrack instead of just the peco flextrack. Thank you

[@djstrains]

No matter where in the world you are, it’s awesome that American trains are so popular and I can help show the world what I can. Thanks so much for watching

[@TrainDetailsbyGuss]

Great work as usual.

[@djstrains]

I appreciate that

[@danasoroko]

I can't find the video, but I loved the Union Railroad diesel shops. I also thought including your daughter in the intro was great!

[@bobsturgis4674]

DJ,the layout is coming along nicely.I all ways enjoy your perspective,being a Engineer on how things look through the cab.My simple question,when painting the kato track.Did you cover the rails before painting.To me,maybe it is just me.But it looks like you spray painted the rails all together.Great video as all ways,to everyone Stay safe.☮

[@djstrains]

Sprayed it all with brown paint then wiped the paint off the rail

[@shawnpowell5876]

Great video DJ and the sections of static grass turned out nice! The ballasting you did turned out nice too even where you added some darker color to give it distinct color. Was the clump foliage you used by Woodland Scenics? I also like the idea of using styrene for roads. Thanks again for sharing your videos and look fwd to seeing the next one!

[@djstrains]

Clump was woodland scenics. More videos soon!!

[@ronduz1281]

👍👍👍you got great stuff

[@stanleym2679]

Nice job on scenery, would like to have seen your camera keep panning to recast of layout at end ,nice job keep up the great work

[@djstrains]

Layout update in the works.

[@RicArmstrong]

You said you've been working for the railroad for 23 years? That's a fantastic retirement package you have waiting for you. That's something the young men and women out there might want to think about too.

[@djstrains]

Lets hope. They dangle that over your head your whole career, but many guys stay longer because the insurance copay after retiring is still high.

[@RicArmstrong]

@@djstrains Yeah, my mother worked for CSX for only 13 years but she's very happy with her RR retirement. I can't imagine what a 20+ years retirement would look like.

[@mikehowey4869]

Good job on the scenery and ballast.

[@djstrains]

Thanks, I got more done recently.

[@georgehasler142]

Nice information always enjoy your videos also are you on the extra board or do you have a signed pool turn at work and always work safe

[@djstrains]

extra board Pittsburgh covering locals and yard jobs.

[@Shinotama]

Great video, I'm interested in how that bus will get around that street corner haha

[@djstrains]

You and me both!

[@Shinotama]

@@djstrains - Thanks for the reply, I've just found your channel and I'm binge watching them all as I'm doing some photo editing, great stuff!

[@evenblackercrow4476]

Static grass--who thinks this stuff up? It's great, thanks. And about the schoolbus critique, you might be able to use a french curve on the outside corner, then take the nicked off corner and use it on the interior angle.

[@evenblackercrow4476]

Went to school at PITT. I've been in PAT buses that defy reality.

[@Pauley_in_GP]

Another great video. Two questions: Did you paint your Unitrak? Are you concerned about gluing down your switches as that makes repairs difficut.

[@djstrains]

I did paint the unitrak with basic brown spray paint. I only glued down the non switch tracks.

[@colevoncole3180]

DJ you are so amazing at creating scenery the kato plastic track kills it please do a normal layout

[@djstrains]

If you have been following my new layout progress, it is 4 scenes. Connellsville (Atlas flex track and Peco turnouts), Greensburg (Atlas & kato), the steel valley (kato and atlas on industrial tracks), and one day Pittsburgh (kato & atlas). This way I am able to show more techniques for a larger audience and skill set, then just do one style . There are pros and cons of each.

[@djstrains]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nonRh398nbGFjrM and also kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZorZfKx8fMuff9k

[@Enjoyer.762]

👍

[@kmagnussen1052]

So what color is crab grass?

[@djstrains]

In my yard, lol, its same color but probably would be considered course turf as opposed to green grass by woodland scenics. Your thoughts?

[@jhoodfysh]

DJ, I like your videos and especially your drone pictures. One comment, I am hard of hearing and if captions can be added, it would help me a lot.

[@djstrains]

Thats a KZbin issue. All videos have English subtitles as a default.

[@jhoodfysh]

@@djstrains Okay, I will check into this. Almost all the videos I watch have the captions, but sometimes the caption option is greyed out (as it was in this video). I thought there was something that you could do when uploading the video. Thank you for the reply.

[@djstrains]

@@jhoodfysh I went and double checked and it says default US English automatic. But nearly every video someone comments that the captions aren't working.

[@jhoodfysh]

@@djstrains Hmmm, I did a search and its seems sound quality can affect the captions or video length. I do not see that as a problem with your videos. There was some trouble shooting that can be done. I do not post videos that I have recorded, so I am at a loss. Thank you again for being so proactive.

[@Wrathchildss]

Do you spread the ballast in the middle of the track with your finger? I can do the sides easy enough but I have issues with the middle of the unitrack! To the point where I may just paint the track and have ballast on the outside.

[@djstrains]

Crap, I forgot to address this! I used very little ballast between the rails for that reason. The ties are too low profile for a lot of ballast. Im sorry I forgot to mention that.

[@Wrathchildss]

No worries? I’m going to have to try less! Thanks.

[@jimbos3421]

SORRY, +8 cars, was doing track speed in a cloud of flying snow, looked like 79 mph!

[@oldman975]

Are you going to put in a “Y” to turn your Amtrak trains around?

[@djstrains]

Actually no. The wye in Homewood, Pa wouldnt fit in my space in my room. It would have been nice, but the track plan is very compressed as it is. There is a reverse loop though.

[@KatoOnTheTrack1]

What brand of paint do you use on the foam?

[@djstrains]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2LXf2yphd5kr80

[@dwightbernheimer331]

As soon as I started watching this, hearing that you were a railroad professional, first thing I say to myself is, these guys make pretty good money, what the hell is he screwing around with N scale for???... Lol. I'd at least be doing S scale or 2 rail O scale. Easy for me to say. At almost 80 years old, I'd prefer a scale I could actually See. Good stuff thanks for posting...

[@djstrains]

What a misconception. I hate hearing this lie about rich railroaders. I bring home 51% of my pay because of taxes, union dues, health insurance, job insurance, child support, etc. 51%. Let that sink in. Reagan crushed us from striking in 1985. Since then, every year we lose more and more money. Claims are never paid. Being 80, your memories of from a different era. Not close to the reality of today. Corporate greed has killed our wages.

[@dwightbernheimer331]

@@djstrains WOW... I remember my uncle retiring from the real Santa Fe Railroad as an engineer in the 50s/60s, he had more money than he knew what to do with, Just sayin'... And the rumor is retirement benefits are great... Didn't mean to disparage you... I watch some of your videos. Don't have the patience for model railroading anymore. Good luck God bless and thank your lucky stars you weren't a breakman in the 40s LOL

[@djstrains]

The job is a lot safer than back then. I saw some old video of the shenanigans and am glad I didnt work back then, lol. Have a great weekend.

[@dwightbernheimer331]

@@djstrains You too, thanks so much...

[@paulrmatzke298]

I see you have darker, thicker green foliage and then a lighter, thinner foliage on the sides of the track where you were demonstrating making the roads. Are those from the same foliage pack you showed earlier or different ones?

[@djstrains]

Same

[@NicksLime06]

What kind of paint (brand/color) did you use to weather your track?

[@djstrains]

Tamiya spray paint. What’s nice is that I have managed to use a whole can over a few months on different projects and it never clogged, unlike rustoleum which sucks.

[@MrCool-du2el]

Which Amtrak model is that?

[@djstrains]

n scale kato p42. I added DCC

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

90 degree intersection? The school bus will never make it. Road lanes about 11-12' wide? I don't know about turn radius or curve radius on city streets.

[@djstrains]

its a model train layout. its a toy. a toyyyyyyyyyyyy. Lol. When its all finished and sceniced, 99% of people will say "Wow, that looks like Braddock, Pa." and nooooo one will care if the school bus has to make a wide turn. Heck, I'll take the bus off and model it as a weekend. lol

[@Pauley_in_GP]

This is a test message. I had left a comment that disappeared and I'm trying to figure out why.

[@djstrains]

Which video?

[@djstrains]

I have had issues with early videos where the comments disappeared. Not much lately. Sometimes it will go into my HELD FOR REVIEW area for no reason.

[@lowcountryrailroad7701]

Nice video. Thanks for the tips. David @LCRR

[@djstrains]

Thanks David!