Hi guys,

I wonder what happened to my Märklin Z rails? After glueing them down to the cork roadbed, part of the rails went all dark. Multimeter states that it is conductive, but loco won’t go over.

I did manage to get it off with just a single very light pull with a diamond file (don’t hang me please) and everything works now.

Just wonder what happened?

Photo below.

BR,
Eino

I used regular white PVA for indoor use.

-Eino

I guess I have to use less glue then! It was a bit much on this section, I have to admit.

Trains ride good now that I managed to clean the track.

-Eino

When you have applied the dry ballast you can also spray it with some rubbing alcohol (using an atomizer of sorts). This will make the ballast glue application much easier. The alcohol will wet the tracks and later evaporate and shouldn't cause corrosion. (I used ready made ballast glue which of course is more expensive).

Hello, hope all is well.

When I ballasted my track, in addition to the comments provided, I suggest using the thinned glue, but apply it with an eye dropper. There is no need to get the glue all over the metal rails. The glue on the rail ties will hold it in place. A few nails here and there are useful also if applied according to the warnings on the package. Add just a few consistent drop between the rail, and the drops seem to spread out when they hit the ties. If it doesn’t seep to the outside of the track where you need it, just add a few drops to the inside again and then outside until it is all the same damp color.

The gentle use of the eye dropper might take a bit longer, but will also keep the ballast from get washed out in the large bare circles.

You might find parts of track that don’t seem to be in contact with the railhead surface, in this case you might want to add more ballast. Resist the solution of adding a heavy weight to this section because the Marklin track is thin and delicate and may flex away and this may might account for a lose of contact area when your locomotive passes.

Ballasting requires cleaning after, but this way you should have less cleaning to do. If the bare spots are still created, just add bits of ballast to hid them again and a bit more glue. It seemed in some areas, the ballast stuck to the side of the rails especially on the inside. It is impossible to clean and will cause a big mess if you try to clean it before it dries. Just inspect your job and I used a dental type hooked tool to just flick this off. Roll a wagon over the entire track to disclose these small obstructions. Watch if the wheels break contact with the track then look closely you will find something.

I do like the look created, but most use a rust colore paint on the side of the rails. Might be a more long lasting effect.

Ballasting is certainly a job, that is why some consider the plastic rokuhan ballasted track, but it really does not look as good, in my opinion.

Best wishes on your project, hope my suggestions are helpful, don’t worry you will get it right. Take good care. Happy new year everyone! Great topic!

Dwight

Hello, hope all is well and Happy New Year!

If you are able to purchase Woodland Scenics, the produce I used was their Scenic Cement. It is described as perfect for ballast. It says it has a wetting agent in it.

Take good care.

Dwight