Im ust about to start actually modelling my layout with detail such as grass and ballast however my question is..
Once I have ballasted the track like this
Thanks
Jon
No.
It never seems to quite work out although, in theory it should.
Don't bother trying.
What would be your suggestion??
I did this on a previous layout - The track will come up with care. The PVA did wash off, but I had to submerge the pieces of track in water for hours. Some pieces of track will be too long to fit into a bucket etc, and I wouldn't want to use a sink (because as the ballast comes off it would clog the drain).
A wall paperer's trough might come in useful for the cleaning process. And if you are careful what is directly under the track surface (eg sellotape, non-pourous) then that will ease the removal process.
Even after all this, the glue still affects the track, it prevents flexi track flexing as easily at first and point blades don't conduct electricity as well as they should.
Minor problems. But a bit of effort is involved in the clean up offset against the cost of new track.
All the black track (except points) on my layout was recovered in this way.
If you are interested, I suggest you get a few bits of track and ballast as you plan, use different materials and techniques for each. Let it dry - then try removing it/cleaning it.
HTH
-- Mike
Mirrors my experience with PVA, it can be done but you need to clean points with a fibreglass pencil and even then adding a separate switch may be necessary. There is a non-setting rubber compaund available from America, seems to be loved or hated, dead easy to use, keeps the noise down but tends to collect dirt so you need to add the ballast pretty soon after laying (just press it down into the compound)
The 'test it first' idea is worth the effort - I have a half completed project to test a series of methods but at present rate of progress that'll take a year or more to complete
HTH
On Sat, 06 Mar 2004 21:30:40 +0000, snipped-for-privacy@notigg.not.no wrote: The glue I use for track laying is the 'washable pva' sold at Early Learning Centres and similar places for kids to play with. Holds the track and ballast firmly enough but softens up with a soaking and the track can be lifted and cleaned off, much easier than with the naormal pva, and the ballast then scraped off the cork underlay.
Keith
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