Tidy ballast edge with raised track

[viaEstrecha]

Just thought I would share this. I have several places where the track is above ground level on roofing felt-covered baseboards, yet I want it ballasted to match the rest of the line. I've tried running a bead of roofing mastic and sticking ballast to it, but it doesn't last more than a season and impedes drainage. So instead, I am beginning to use this stuff - plasterer's stop bead. It is galvanised, so should last OK, and I just pop the lattice bit under the sleepers and then add ballast (Bowers Horticultural Grit): instant neat edge and no more ballast washed away! Got mine from B&Q {http://www.diy.com/departments/galvanised-steel-stop-bead-l3000mm-w60mm/35783_BQ.prd?icamp=recs}.

 

[pugwash]

Looks damned good except for the shiny edges which will dull with age, but what happens at the bendy bits and points?

 

[kedwards]

Looks good to me too and something I would like to try on my railway, but my question too is, can it be bent? Most of the places I would need to use it on are not straight.

 

[viaEstrecha]

In its real job, it is designed to be dead straight as a wall or edge corner under plaster and so it does not bend easily. I only need it to form angled comers, to mirror the shape of the baseboards, and the only easy solution is to cut it into smaller lengths, trim off the surplus lattice and overlap the latter slightly at the corners. It is very thin and this doesn't seem to be a problem. But no, forming an external curve is probably impossible with this particular stuff and I think making an internal one by nicking the main profile and snipping the lattice would be a chore not worth the effort.

The shiny edge could be toned down with, say, grey Hammerite, but like Dra. Estrecha, I quite like shiny pretty things in the garden She keeps sticking solar lights out there and I am worried something heading for Luton Airport is going to try and land here.

 

[Riograndad]

Great idea certainly looking at this for at least the rebuild sections soon to be undertaken,,,ok for straight sections,will make some inquiries,long time ago worked in a builders merchants,used to sell it by the box,may work out cheaper than retail outlet,thanks for the nod

 

[Madman]

I know that curable "Corner Bead" is available. However I don't think that "Stop Bead" is in the curable variety. As has been mentioned, snipping the stop bead about 2" on center and bending it would work, but a bit too much work.

 

[trammayo]

I wonder if the plastic version (for external rendering) would bend enough? There's also tile edging strip too.

It's a good idea though - good lateral thinking!

 

[PhilP]

I wonder if the plastic version (for external rendering) would bend enough? There's also tile edging strip too.

It's a good idea though - good lateral thinking!

External rendering one might work..
Internal tile-edging may not be so UV stable?? I would guess it would become very brittle in quite a short space of time.

 

[viaEstrecha]

I have used PVC angled corner strips outside {http://www.diy.com/departments/white-pvc-corner-h10mm-w10mm-l2m/256552_BQ.prd}. It makes good platform edging and can be persuaded to curve. A coat of masonry paint helps as UV protection, though being similar to double glazing PVC I suppose suggests that it fairly durable anyway. So if screwed down against the baseboard, I would imagine it too could serve to retain ballast beside curved track.

 

[PhilP]

I like the lamps on the first picture..
Any idea who's they are, or where they came from please?

 

[viaEstrecha]

I like the lamps on the first picture..
Any idea who's they are, or where they came from please?

Viessmann 'Park Lamps' or Busch 'Old-timer' 8620. I think I have a mix of 3 types. Most likely the latter, but my memory is appalling, sorry. I like both of these better than the LGB ones, but when I was still earning, I used to just get anything which came up on eBay for a reasonable price!

Afternote: Yep, definitely Busch lamps. This prompted me to go out and convert them all to LED bulbs this afternoon! Success - all worked and as I was on a roll, got all 20 point motors working from the control panel too. Woohoo.