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Here are some of the basic techniques that I used to build the layout. This is not the only way to do things, but this is what I have found works for me.
Benchwork
Benchwork
The benchwork is just a basic 1 X 4 box frame with 2 X 2 legs and 1/2" plywood top. The top was then painted white and I drew 1 foot grid lines to help place the track from the paper plans. The white paint just makes it easier to see what's on the table and any color paint will help seal the wood. The area under the tracks was covered in 3/4 inch foam board to deaden the sound and provide some scenic relief for ditches and dips.
Laying and Ballasting track
Most of the track on the layout is flex track. I used sectional track as a guide on curves and then marked the location for the roadbed. When I was packing away the HO stuff, I discovered that N scale track fit nicely on 1/2 section of HO cork roadbed. It gave me some extra height that really looks nice with the scenery and ballast in place. This is a also good way to get twice the roadbed for the price! To hold the roadbed in place, I spread a thin layer of liquid nails on the bottom of the roadbed and set it in place. #19 X 1/2" brads work great to hold the roadbed in place until the liquid nails sets up which only takes a few minutes. If you push the brads flush with the roadbed they don't have to be removed later. Another very thin layer of liquid nails on top of the roadbed holds the track in place. By the way, the best way to remove liquid nails from your fingers is acetone. Acetone will also remove the foam from your layout. DO NOT GET THE ACETONE ON FOAM.Once the track is down, I used a flat brown spray paint to weather the track.
To ballast the track, I used Woodland Scenics fine ballast. I made a cheap (actually free) ballast applicator from an old white glue cap.
I cut the inside part of the cap that is used to close the bottle and cut the tip off of the outer cap to make the hole slightly larger. Cut a little off at a time to get the flow of ballast that is easy to control. If you have to squeeze the bottle a little that should be about right.
If you use the HO roadbed, adding a little dirt to the flat side will save a little ballast. I like to put a layer of dirt up to the roadbed anyway before I add the ballast. Direct the ballast on top of the ties on both sides and center.
Run your finger along the top of the ties and then use a soft brush to touch it up.
Use a spray bottle of water with a few drops of liquid detergent added and follow with a 50/50 mix of white glue and water. The finer the mist from the sprayer, the better. The fine ballast tends to clump up if the spray is too course.
Rivers and Lakes
Still working on this.
