The Carolina Sandhills Lines in HO Scale

[davefoxx]

Bet that Unitrack is looking pretty good now. 

Too funny.

[nuno81291]

Sometimes we have to take a step backward to take one forward. I’m sure you will appreciate the change when the new ballast is in. I’d wager we have all been in similar circumstances at times. My attempt at a roll your own ballast came out terrible for a few takes, eventually managed to color it to my liking but going commercial when I run out.  May I ask what size # the ballast you had from Scenic express is? The sizing looks good and I was looking at their medium gray blend.

[davefoxx]

@nuno81291,

I'll try to remember to get the information off of both cannisters of Scenic Express ballast that I used, when I get home from the office later today.

DFF

[davefoxx]

@nuno81291,

Here they are.  The ballast on the left is the one that seems to have translucent grains that don’t look good.  The ballast on the right is better but the wrong color for me.  I may use it for the branchline, though.  We’ll see.



DFF

[davefoxx]

Moving forward again:



DFF

[Jbub]

As soon as the track is down, jfrst. That's the whole reason we do the parts we don't like.

[glakedylan]

super recovery, Dave...I hope this time around the ballasting goes well
your desire to get it just right i understand and can relate to
FWIW...your modeling is top-notch and while the journey getting it there
can be a challenge
you have, you will, and it will be again


weekend wishes
sincerely
Gary

[davefoxx]

super recovery, Dave...I hope this time around the ballasting goes well
your desire to get it just right i understand and can relate to
FWIW...your modeling is top-notch and while the journey getting it there
can be a challenge
you have, you will, and it will be again


weekend wishes
sincerely
Gary

Thank you, Gary.  Those are some nice words.  I appreciate it.

DFF

[davefoxx]

As soon as the track is down, jfrst. That's the whole reason we do the parts we don't like.

Agreed, and it’s almost time to JFRTs!



DFF

[wm3798]

Glad I stopped to read the commentary.  I saw the pictures of the track being pulled up, and figured you were moving on to O scale... Maybe your son would get the HO layout since your daughter already called dibs on the N scale...

Looks like it will come back together nicely.

I'm getting ready to dismantle the snap track rig that I threw together back in January so I can start building the Retro layout in earnest, so I got all the feels for what you're putting yourself through.
L

[mu26aeh]

Agreed, and it’s almost time to JFRTs!



DFF

Can't wait until I can JFRTs again on the Hanover Sub.  You'll be back at it much sooner than I !  But as others said and I am doing, sometimes you must go back to move forward

[davefoxx]

Adam, my step backwards is just a minor inconvenience as compared to your massive reconstruction.  But, in both of our cases, the end result will be much improved.

Track masked and painted:



Masking removed and the railheads cleaned before the paint sets:



DFF

[Chris333]

So what is the ratio of original track to replaced track... so far?   

Still jealous of those curved turnouts.

[davefoxx]

So what is the ratio of original track to replaced track... so far?   

Still jealous of those curved turnouts.

Haha!  There ain’t much left!

DFF

[davefoxx]

Sopping wet with diluted white glue, so not much to look at yet, but I laid down some of the AR&M ballast:



This is what I'm using: NS/CSX ballast that seems to match former Seaboard System lines.  So much better!



I'll provide a better lit shot once the ballast dries, as a comparison.  I'm satisfied already.

DFF