More Realism for Kato Unitrack

[BryanC]

You may find this thread of interest:<u><span style="color: #669966">http://www.nscale.net/forums/modeling/general-scenery-techniques/2004/01/19/weathering-kato-unitrack</span></u>BTW, I found it by using the search feature! Try entering the words unitrack and weathering in the search box and then clicking the Search button! (Upper right on page). You may find some other threads of interest as well![img]/modules/tinymce/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif[/img]

[dugbonz]

I feel the same way as you do about unitrack. I also hate ballasting. Two things: One, I've started using Joe's Rusty Rail painter to carefully paint the rails without getting paint on the ties and plastic ballast. I then used some of my weathering powders to dull down and dirty up the ballast. You have to top coat it well so the powders don't get sucked up by your locos. Then of course clean the rail tops.* I'll try and post a picture tonight. The last project railroad at Model Railroader Magazine used HO Unitrack. They used Kato's matching ballast to sprinkle on the edges breaking*up the uniform effect. You might want to look that up. My other Unitrack problem was that I have two distinctively different*shades of gray plastic ballast. I will attempt to use my weathering technique to soften the edges between the two.

[steam-n]

This is why Nscale.net is better than any magazine you can buy- all the input you can get instantly from fellow nscalers. I would hasten to add that you can always count on the Alligator Lines to get you there (Thanks Bryan!).I guess I missed the thread on this subject while I was away this summer. The photos were especially inspiring, and so I will be experimenting in the coming days.What I've been doing with other types of track (usually Atlas code 80) is painting the track and then ballasting. If I paint Unitrack the same way, I don't think I can get ballast to cover the painted areas between the ties- it seems to be too shallow, and I don't like ballast over the ties. Maybe its just better to weather Unitrack other ways. I'll be trying different things before I lay track on my proposed new layout.    

[dieselfan1]

I started to ballast some of my layout with the Kato ballast and I think it looks pretty good.I just use a small paint brush to brush on Elmers* white glue full strength right up the sides to the ends of the ties and about 1/8'' - *3/16'' past the edge of the plastic . Then I sprinkle on the ballast and let it dry overnight. Vacuum it up the next day and you are done. No spray bottles needed.

[NH2006]

I am going to cover mine with "snow" (plaster) this winter.* I'll do a test track adn let ya'll know how it goes...[G2:1964]

[Kashirigi]

I've ballasted some unitrack using Woodland Scenics fine ballast. It's a pain, but it looks pretty good in the end. There's a tutorial on the Atlas website, of all places. If you have a large layout, it will take some time. Luckily, mine's only 2x4. . .

[Bryan]

I believe there's a thread or two on spiffing up Unitrack here also... likely in the Trackage forum.

[BryanC]

I believe there's a thread or two on spiffing up Unitrack here also... likely in the Trackage forum.

Try the second post in this thread! Also, the search feature is your friend! Has that been said before?*[img]/modules/tinymce/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-tongue-out.gif[/img]