No Fear Ballasting For Model Railroad Turnouts | River Road - Vlog #25

This is my "No Fear" method of ballasting the weathered HO Scale Turnout on the River Road Shelf Layout.

[@rafaelvoncina6036]

Yes to both, pre-wetting with very dilluted IPA to break the surface tension and fixing with matte medium. I use 1 part matte medium to 6 parts water. The first time it seemed it'll never hold, but it does once completely dry. I tried PVA again for a diorama and the result was visually inferior (for some reason), it didn't "breathe". The ballast I prepare myself from local stone (as used on the real thing). Sift it outside so the wind takes the dust away. Or in the garage and collect the dust and use it for weathering or toning or whatever. Ours is such a versatile hobby. All you need is curiosity and you can learn all sorts. I cannot shake your thought from months ago, when you said we should nurture and develop our given talents. True that. Thank you for this reminder.

[@boomerdiorama]

That's it! I used dirt from the garden as a kid . . . lol. The ballast I used here is from my driveway fifty years later. Cheap and cheerful, and it works! Cheers.

[@rafaelvoncina6036]

@@boomerdiorama You kept that kid's joie de vivre. So many people just forget that little great person they once were...

[@DisVietVetUSA]

One of your better video, you nailed it with Matte Medium good show!

[@boomerdiorama]

Glad you enjoyed it! Please see the "community" tab for finished ballasting on turnout. No stickie point! They "pop" with a gentle push. Now some Burnt umber "dry" pigments and a light overspray with misted water/alcohol and all is well. Cheers.

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Great upload today enjoyed it very much.

[@boomerdiorama]

Please the "Community" Tab . . . no stickie points.

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

@@boomerdiorama Thank you very much for replying to my comment. I would love if you could take a quick look at my page and any feedback would be greatly appreciated.I have a new video out now.Hope you like and share.

[@boomerdiorama]

@@medwaymodelrailway7129 I don't like to give opinions on other people's channels. Just stay on topic and upload often if you want to get traction. Serve your community and answer every comment. Don't spam hearts. In other words, if you don't work as hard as you do in your day job, your chance of KZbin success are slim to none. Cheers.

[@keaganwright124]

You are truly revolutionary Boomer! This is awesome, I'll try it on my layout tomorrow =)

[@boomerdiorama]

Sounds great!

[@154Colin]

I totally agree regarding the IPA instead of the Detergent. Firstly, the IPA dilutes and distributes better whereas the Detergent appears to introduce bubbles and more than likely separates and forms a goop at the bottom of the bottle. This could have be a direct result of the ratio of H2O to Detergent and/or the quality. Secondly [the most important to me], the evaporation.

[@boomerdiorama]

I don't know where the soap method came from. The soap bubbles up while shifting ballast chunks everywhere, etc. When I use this method, after a careful dry run sorting the ballast, then a light spray to soak down, everything stays put when I dribble in the heavily thinned matte medium. I only have to revisit s few spots with a bamboo skewer and all is well for prime time. Cheers.

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

@@boomerdiorama I'm guessing because of what the soap does. It DOES work to get the liquid down into the ballast and track by breaking surface tension, right? So, it does what's intended, but might have a bit of an extra unwanted side effect if you're particularly discerning.

[@boomerdiorama]

@@andrewlaverghetta715 IPA seems to work the best with Matte medium in my experience.😁

[@milmorguy]

One argument I've heard in favour of white glue is that if the track has to be moved water will soften it. I guess matte medium will not soften.

[@boomerdiorama]

No, But matte medium peel's up easily because it stays rubbery (soft) with a dead flat finish as well. The Liquitex matte medium works a treat for me in every situation. ;-)

[@andrewl9191]

I've done some of my n scale ballasting, but it's been a pain being so small. I had started by wetting it with ipa first, and then using diluted glue, but feel like it might work better putting the ipa in. I had even tried it with the dish soap some had suggested, I just wasn't sure about the ipa with the matte medium, feeling like it would make it less effective, but you've shown it yourself. I started using matte medium for a couple things in the last few months as well and enjoy it.

[@boomerdiorama]

Try just pre-soaking with IPA/WATER . . . then just use Matte Medium 50/50 with water only. You can actually thin the Matte Medium even more for around the points (on the switches) and you won't glue them together. They might be stuck the next morning but you can "Pop" them loose easily and then you are good to go. ;-)

[@andrewl9191]

@@boomerdiorama I'm working on a very short diorama for a promotional video at the library where I work. I'm usually N scale but the diorama is HO scale so it feels like it's HUGE! I already have too much N scale...I can't switch now...or can I? haha Maybe I'll just make a "small" little thing like Glover Road. Just came back to this video to see the ratio you suggested by the way.

[@kelvinbranom10]

It's great to hear other perspectives as it can and does improve modeling skills. Oh I forgot to thank you for inviting me to the first operating session before all others, LOL

[@boomerdiorama]

Any time!

[@herrkiwi3110]

I found that if you spray the track with Tamiya flat brown and then mist your ballast with a stronger iso/water mix it will create a really nice weathering effect on the rails and ties once it evaporates off.

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes. Been using Tamiya with ISA for twenty five years. It's my go-to method of painting. Cheers.

[@bobainsworth5057]

I've been so slow that you caught up to me. I'm about to start ballesting again. Had to make some changes ( for ops purposes- which you've talked about before) and I'm so glad you explained about the matte medium. I've always used white glue or ( believe it or not ) yellow carpenters glue for ballesting. I have used alcohol instead of soap for years , for same reasons. However ,up untill 2 yrs. Ago I sprayed all of it on. It worked but left a residue on rails that I couldn't see and had to clean the track viciously . Now I use a pippit (?) . So much cleaner . Takes a bit longer but the time I save from cleaning makes up for it. Thanks for the tips. This time I may get it right.🥴

[@boomerdiorama]

See the community tab for finished turnout ballasting. No stickie points. If I have residue I just brush on some dry umber pigment and then spray down with a mist of water/alcohol. It all goes away and even looks better!. Cheers.

[@Mercatoyd]

great info here.. I actually really like this approach compared to my teachers of yesteryear in N scale. Years ago I was taught to use clear packing tape sticky side up on the bottom of the entire turnout.. dump ballast onto the turnout.. tip it upside down and let whatever was loose go back into the container. Now the turnout has ballast, though very minimal only what is stuck to the packing tape. And then add it to the layout. No glue ever. Your approach gives a better look and offers control over the glue process. Thanks for the tip.

[@boomerdiorama]

I don't recall hearing of the packing tape method. I am sure if I did it was quickly dismissed. I used this method successfully with "N" Scale in past. If you want prototypical looking turnouts, this is the way to ballast them in my opinion. It's safe and it looks great as well. Cheers.

[@timbober1]

While paging through Railfan magazine i read an article about Minnesota Commercial. It’s a “last mile” railroad that services what is left of industry in St. Paul & Minneapolis. It interchanges with most of the major rail roads (not CSX or Norfolk). The reason I tell you this is there is a small recycling warehouse with cinder block construction painted pink. Now when they put up a commercial building it’s always precast concrete. Minnesota Commercial is like the SRI. They even have a roundhouse and a turntable.

[@boomerdiorama]

That sounds cool. The warehouse buildings on River Road will be "tilt-ups."

[@jeffwhite3679]

Very timely post for me. I'm ballasting track now. Off to Hobby Lobby for some Matte Medium. I've been using diluted Elmers Glue All with a little alcohol added. I prefer alcohol to soap too. Letting the glue wick in from the side is brilliant! I'd never have thought of that and I've never seen it in a tutorial or how to article in the model railroad press,

[@boomerdiorama]

Matte Medium allows color to show through better as well because it is flat.

[@vincenthuying98]

Hey Boomer, now that’s a great tip, definitely gonna put this technique into effect on my new layout.

[@boomerdiorama]

See the "Community" tab. The turnout points "pop" and don't stick!

[@harperlarry49]

Great information. I can steal some matt medium from my wife and give it a try. Thanks. Cheers - Larry.

[@boomerdiorama]

Trust matte medium heavily thinned with water. Let it dry overnight. If it's a turnout, revisit it every few hours and move it a bit, then walk away. It works remarkably well and leaves no sheen. Dead flat. Cheers.

[@Makitaization]

I just use a vacuum ballast setup. On switches I pull the vacuum hose of the tool and detail around the points with it.

[@boomerdiorama]

Great idea! The nice thing about matte Medium is a little IPA loosens up everything up around the points as well.😁 Cheers.

[@70rrsteve51]

I’m getting close to ballasting on my layout, and after a few turnout ballasting disasters on previous layouts, I’ve been dreading this! All your other tips have been spot on, so I’m…almost…looking forward to revisiting turnout ballasting! Thanks again for taking the time to make these great videos, Boomer!

[@boomerdiorama]

Thank You, Use very thin "Matte Medium" with lots of water (spray bottle) on hand, and you will be fine. I have done hundreds of turnouts in the past like this and they always work out. I only lost one due to carpenters glue or too heavy a mix. Trust the thin matte medium. Cheers.

[@thomasboese3793]

Practice makes perfect. Start with the mainline and find out the ratios and dry times that work for you. If you still have any hesitancy built a test track of two old turnouts of any scale/gauge.

[@boomerdiorama]

@@thomasboese3793 Good advice!😁

[@70rrsteve51]

I’m stoked about trying this with matte medium. I’ve always gone the liquid-detergent-water-and-white-glue method, and have always been less than happy.

[@boomerdiorama]

@@70rrsteve51 Use very thin matte medium and the points should pop the next day. Try to set the points in the middle of the throw bar for extra insurance so the outside rails don't adhere to the points. They should pop anyway though. It never fails so far for me.

[@ronduz1281]

Wow looks easy

[@boomerdiorama]

I think so. Cheers.

[@eXtremeFX2010]

Hi what mixture do you recommend for regular Matt Medium for scenery or straights and curve rail tracks? Perhaps 50% Matt Medium and 50% IPA? Please advise. Really enjoy your videos. BTW. I too am building an interchangeable Shelf Modular extension which I can change out with a different scene at the far end of my layout. That way.... You don't have to start an entire layout all over again. Just disconnect one Modular and switch out with another 😉. Thanks for your videos. Again please advise on the ballasted mixture for non-switch areas.😊

[@boomerdiorama]

50/50 is fail safe. I take it you have read some of Ian Rice books regarding modular shelf layouts.😁

[@eXtremeFX2010]

@@boomerdiorama Yes Sir! More its the modern way of not doing a complete tear down and starting from scratch... build wisely and have more creative liberty for new ideas.😉 And Thank You for all your tips 😁

[@needs2quit1atgmail87]

Ohh man this was a difficult hurtle to overcome. For me i was trying to pack it in everywhere so all my switches were frozen. Bit after i learned to layer it gradually it was way better! Lol.

[@boomerdiorama]

Super thin matte medium works all the time. The worst thing that can happen is "less" adhesive which is almost always sufficient for ballast.

[@jstockton303]

Great hints on how to ballast track, which strength IPA do you use for the wetting agent?

[@boomerdiorama]

15% IPA to 85% water.

[@giulius7176]

If that works for you, It will work for me!!!! Thanks!!

[@boomerdiorama]

It does!

[@edcvgp9]

Outstanding, can I ask what number that matte medium is? Thanks

[@boomerdiorama]

Would you believe me if I said not to use that one? I only wanted to try it once. It tends to leave white anomalies when it comes into contact with IPA. Golden makes fantastic mediums but I don't recommend this particular matte medium. I recommend Liquitex "Professional" Matte Medium (The Green Label). I use it exclusively now. Cheers.

[@edcvgp9]

Thank you sir

[@edcvgp9]

I have always been a rivet counter , now I am becoming a spike counter 😊

[@edcvgp9]

@@boomerdiorama thanks again

[@peterainsworth8466]

Thanks once again. What are your thoughts on using matt mod podge? Is it the same or similar in the final result? (I plan on doing some ballasting today......)

[@boomerdiorama]

I never used "mod podge." Mod Podge is just a derivative of matte medium. I use mostly artist supplies because I grew up with them. Cheers.😂

[@westonoverland]

Hey Boomer, i'm going to start working on my channel very soon... is it alright if i shout you out on there for everything you've taught us?! appreciate it 🤘🏻

[@boomerdiorama]

Yes. Go for it! . . . and thank you! Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@westonoverland]

@@boomerdiorama no problem! thank you

[@boomerdiorama]

@@westonoverland You are welcome. Thanks for asking. Cheers ~ Boomer.

[@Death_From_Below]

Want them to look realistic.

[@boomerdiorama]

See "Community" tab. No stickie points! Ballast is hard.