Ballasting The C&NW Layout

After watching plenty of videos on YouTube on ballasting N scale and specifically KATO Unitrack, it was now time to get it done on my C&NW layout. Growing up and attempting previous model railroads, ballasting was always an issue for me, but with the help of the internet, I think I finally got it right.

There are plenty of YouTube videos on it now and I elected to go with the following approach.

Items needed:

Ballast

White Glue

Isopropyl Alcohol

Scenic Cement

Baby Spoon

Craft Paint Brushs

Eye Droppers

Steps:

1. I applied Elmer’s Glue-All full strength (white glue) on the edges of the Unitrack and a little on the trackboard.
2. With a craft flat paint brush, I spread the glue evenly.
3. I used a baby spoon to distribute the ballast over the edges of the track.  The baby spon allowed a bit more control to apply the ballast.
4. With a fine paint brush, I cleaned up any ballast that was built up on the ties.
5. With a wider flat paint brush, I brushed up at an angle any ballast on the track board closer to the track itself.
6. Once the white glue was dry, I used 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol to act as a wetting agent for when it was time to apply the Scenic Cement.  I applied the alcohol using an eye dropper evenly across all the ballast.
7. Again with an eye dropper it was time to apply the Scenic Cement, the cement could just be a mix of white glue and water, but I decided to use Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement.  Just like with the alcohol, the scenic cement was applied evenly across all the ballast.

That’s about all there is too it.  Now just have to wait for it all to dry.  Once dry I will use a vacuum and clean up the track board and possibly on the rails itself.  Then some more isopropyl alcohol to clean the rails from any glue that may have spilt on them.

Since I am using KATO Unitrack (which technically is already ballasted), I elected not to apply any more ballast between the rails itself.  The ballast I purchased is from KATO and is matched to their Unitrack.  I went this route so my ballast can blend better, and so I do not accidentally get too much glue on the rails.

You’ll notice in the pictures above a third rail with two bumpers at the terminal station.  I decided to add this as a ‘display rail’ for my layout.  I will model a park just in front of it and visitors can go up to the display rail to look at any locomotives or passenger cars that will be displayed there.