01-02-2012, 09:45 AM
More ballast was put down a couple of days ago, which I used to continue my experiments with adhesives.
To this point, I've used diluted white glue, Future floor wax and, with this this spur, matte medium. I haven't yet tried the Scenic Cement
![[Image: p869446628-2.jpg]](http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v35/p869446628-2.jpg)
As described earlier in this thread, the particular ballast I'm using (Smith and Son's cinder ballast mixed with Woodland Scenics cinder ballast about 4 to 1).) doesn't pull in wet water very well when applied with a pipette - this is due to Smith and Son's high dust content. The successful way to accomplish wetting with this type of material is to spray a mister into the air and let the water settle onto the ballast. The smaller droplets penetrate well and this approach has the side benefit of not disturbing the ballast; especially fine, dusty ballast such as this. It makes a heck of a wet mess though....
![[Image: p1008031741-3.jpg]](http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v41/p1008031741-3.jpg)
I'm not happy with diluted matte medium - it leaves the white talc residue behind after setting. (and by the way, that grass needs a good comb!)
![[Image: p837405685-4.jpg]](http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v40/p837405685-4.jpg)
The worst of this stuff showed up where I had really soaked the ballast with the medium, maybe it could be reduced with more application care. Also, Dave Frary has discussed letting getting around this by letting the talc settle in the container and drawing the adhesive (medium part) off into another container. For this application, I don't see the value of this; diluted white glue works as well or better without the extra step.
Any thoughts from the matte medium users out there?
As a side note, I put a path in the grass between the main and spur. The idea was that this path is worn there by brakemen, hobos, young punks, etc. I thought it was pretty cool, however, my wife was not impressed.
Full build is here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p802892396">http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p802892396</a><!-- m -->
To this point, I've used diluted white glue, Future floor wax and, with this this spur, matte medium. I haven't yet tried the Scenic Cement
As described earlier in this thread, the particular ballast I'm using (Smith and Son's cinder ballast mixed with Woodland Scenics cinder ballast about 4 to 1).) doesn't pull in wet water very well when applied with a pipette - this is due to Smith and Son's high dust content. The successful way to accomplish wetting with this type of material is to spray a mister into the air and let the water settle onto the ballast. The smaller droplets penetrate well and this approach has the side benefit of not disturbing the ballast; especially fine, dusty ballast such as this. It makes a heck of a wet mess though....
I'm not happy with diluted matte medium - it leaves the white talc residue behind after setting. (and by the way, that grass needs a good comb!)
The worst of this stuff showed up where I had really soaked the ballast with the medium, maybe it could be reduced with more application care. Also, Dave Frary has discussed letting getting around this by letting the talc settle in the container and drawing the adhesive (medium part) off into another container. For this application, I don't see the value of this; diluted white glue works as well or better without the extra step.
Any thoughts from the matte medium users out there?
As a side note, I put a path in the grass between the main and spur. The idea was that this path is worn there by brakemen, hobos, young punks, etc. I thought it was pretty cool, however, my wife was not impressed.
Full build is here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p802892396">http://goodman312.zenfolio.com/p802892396</a><!-- m -->
Matt Goodman
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio