Ballasting or Scenery first

Shildon BR · 12-01-2018, 10:37 PM

I know there are a lot of different to progress our layouts but what should I be completing first ballasting or hillsides and scenery.

Walkingthedog · 12-01-2018, 10:40 PM

That really is up to you. If you landscape first you have the opportunity to move some track if necessary before ballasting. I built a small embankment between the track and the wall. After it was finished one of my locos just caught some of it. I tweaked the track slightly to prevent this. Would have been trickier if the track had been ballasted.

brian1951 · 12-01-2018, 10:43 PM

It makes no difference really, i prefer to ballast last, in real life its done that way.

Shildon BR · 12-01-2018, 10:54 PM

Thanks Walkingthedog and Brian for your comments and advice.

Michael P · 13-01-2018, 10:03 AM

I ballasted first. Now I dodge about doing different things as the fancy takes me.

Shildon BR · 13-01-2018, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael P

I ballasted first. Now I dodge about doing different things as the fancy takes me.

Thanks Michael for the advice.

Mountain Goat · 13-01-2018, 10:26 AM

If using ready made track I tend to ballast last so it is easier to modify ones track plan if needed.
My current layout has handmade track which is a little more difficult to change position etc, so apart from one alteration I may make, if I ballast now I doubt I would need to alter it.
While it does not really matter, on the possibility of a need to make alterations, I'm inclined to say to build in this order.... Baseboards and legs, track, electrics, scenery and backscenes, ballast, then finish with extra tweeks to the scenery as needed.

Shildon BR · 13-01-2018, 01:55 PM

Thanks Walkingthedog and Mountain Goat for the advice much appreciated.

Teedoubleudee · 13-01-2018, 04:09 PM

Ballasting first every time IMHO.

Walkingthedog · 13-01-2018, 04:21 PM

We’re all different. I take it you get your track right first time TWD

12-01-2018, 10:37 PM	#1
Shildon BR Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Bishop Auckland, county Durham Posts: 166	Ballasting or Scenery first I know there are a lot of different to progress our layouts but what should I be completing first ballasting or hillsides and scenery.

12-01-2018, 10:40 PM	#2
Walkingthedog Part time idiot Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: HAZLEMERE, Bucks Posts: 9,698	That really is up to you. If you landscape first you have the opportunity to move some track if necessary before ballasting. I built a small embankment between the track and the wall. After it was finished one of my locos just caught some of it. I tweaked the track slightly to prevent this. Would have been trickier if the track had been ballasted. __________________ NURSE,the screens! Last edited by Walkingthedog; 12-01-2018 at 10:43 PM.

12-01-2018, 10:54 PM	#4
Shildon BR Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Bishop Auckland, county Durham Posts: 166	Ballasting or Scenery Thanks Walkingthedog and Brian for your comments and advice.

13-01-2018, 01:55 PM	#8
Shildon BR Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Bishop Auckland, county Durham Posts: 166	Ballasting or Scenery Thanks Walkingthedog and Mountain Goat for the advice much appreciated.

13-01-2018, 04:09 PM	#9
Teedoubleudee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Downham Market Posts: 3,014	Ballasting first every time IMHO. __________________ If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong

12-01-2018, 10:43 PM	#3
brian1951 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: at home or Lucerne Posts: 4,355	It makes no difference really, i prefer to ballast last, in real life its done that way.

13-01-2018, 10:03 AM	#5
Michael P Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 202	I ballasted first. Now I dodge about doing different things as the fancy takes me.

13-01-2018, 10:26 AM	#7
Mountain Goat Unique Member. Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: UK. Posts: 2,049	If using ready made track I tend to ballast last so it is easier to modify ones track plan if needed. My current layout has handmade track which is a little more difficult to change position etc, so apart from one alteration I may make, if I ballast now I doubt I would need to alter it. While it does not really matter, on the possibility of a need to make alterations, I'm inclined to say to build in this order.... Baseboards and legs, track, electrics, scenery and backscenes, ballast, then finish with extra tweeks to the scenery as needed.

13-01-2018, 04:21 PM	#10
Walkingthedog Part time idiot Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: HAZLEMERE, Bucks Posts: 9,698	We’re all different. I take it you get your track right first time TWD __________________ NURSE,the screens!

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