granddad gnome
Registered
Been reading about friable sand and cement and peat mix to use as track bed, can anyone explain more about this method please.
track bed
- Thread starter granddad gnome
- Start date
railwayman198
Registered
As a track bed or as ballast? Sounds like 'Rowlands mix' that some folks use as ballast. I tried it on one section of track and it was not much cop - barely lasted 6 months - but maybe I got the mix wrong or used stale cement?
minimans
Trains, Planes, Automobiles & Shooting
Yes Rowland's mix it's good for that rustic look as the moss loves to grow in the track bed! it works well as long as it's kept a bit damp so no wooden sleepers.
Friable sand? doesn't sound to good with the eggs and bacon though............................
Friable sand? doesn't sound to good with the eggs and bacon though............................
I have used this mix on many of my Garden Railways. It is easy to mix, inexpensive and whats more if you intend to move easy to demolish. Just remove an inch or two fill with earth and gravel, the Rockery Plants will soon remove all signs of a Garden Railway.
The viaduct in this Thread has it on the Outside Layer.
http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=193358&high=Dunnyrail#sthash.23ltEiB1.dpbs < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...l#sthash.23ltEiB1.dpbs
I have also used it as track bed, utilising Soffit as a bendable form to make a track base. The comments re encouraging Moss apply to this just as well. However be sure to keep Sedum Acre well away as it is a thug and not easily removed. However' Mind Your Own Business' takes to it very well and can be controlled quite easily.
My mix has been 2 parts Peat, 2 Parts Sharpe River Sand and 1 part Cement. Though you can go to 3/3/1 with little effect and reduced cost. But at a slightly reduced strength. You could if you wish replace the Sand with finely sifted Garden Soil. This works just as well and also attracts growth of Moss a bit better.
JonD
The viaduct in this Thread has it on the Outside Layer.
http://www.gscalecentral.net/tm?m=193358&high=Dunnyrail#sthash.23ltEiB1.dpbs < Link To http://www.forum.gscalece...l#sthash.23ltEiB1.dpbs
I have also used it as track bed, utilising Soffit as a bendable form to make a track base. The comments re encouraging Moss apply to this just as well. However be sure to keep Sedum Acre well away as it is a thug and not easily removed. However' Mind Your Own Business' takes to it very well and can be controlled quite easily.
My mix has been 2 parts Peat, 2 Parts Sharpe River Sand and 1 part Cement. Though you can go to 3/3/1 with little effect and reduced cost. But at a slightly reduced strength. You could if you wish replace the Sand with finely sifted Garden Soil. This works just as well and also attracts growth of Moss a bit better.
JonD
Martino
Photography, The GWR, Aviation, Travel, Cars.
It does Paul, but it also gets my two Collies into an OCD spiral of trying to lick it off!
For ballast/trackbed I've used a variety of stuff - drainage rock, patio base, and (on top of those) chicken grit held together with dilute waterproof PVA.
I started using this http://www.locomotionworks.com/. ...hen water with Miracle Grow and away it goes!
For ballast/trackbed I've used a variety of stuff - drainage rock, patio base, and (on top of those) chicken grit held together with dilute waterproof PVA.
I started using this http://www.locomotionworks.com/. ...hen water with Miracle Grow and away it goes!
Out of date milk works well too.
When I lived at Hertford next door had one of those horrible pre cast Concrete Garages. This was on the border of a very small Garden, so was effectively the fence. In order to reduce the look of it I painted the side with sloppy Cow Dung mixed with some water. Smelly yes but this did attract Algee to reduce the Concrete colour somewhat. The smell was gone within a day! These days I would also have wetted it and used Sulphate of Iron to give a warm brown rusty colour.
Enjoy whatever your option to get the moss growing.
JonD
When I lived at Hertford next door had one of those horrible pre cast Concrete Garages. This was on the border of a very small Garden, so was effectively the fence. In order to reduce the look of it I painted the side with sloppy Cow Dung mixed with some water. Smelly yes but this did attract Algee to reduce the Concrete colour somewhat. The smell was gone within a day! These days I would also have wetted it and used Sulphate of Iron to give a warm brown rusty colour.
Enjoy whatever your option to get the moss growing.
JonD
Northsider
Modelling the Northern half of the Isle of Man
I tried chicken grit plus PVA last year; I wasn't keen on the quite high proportion of crushed shell in the grit, and the PVA broke down quickly with frost/rain; but on the plus side, the pigeons ate quite a bit of it, which reduce the amount of work needed to remove it! I've just replaced some sections with a peat/sand/cement and pigeon grit mix -the latter is smaller, and has ash mixed in too. It looks better, to my eye. Time will tell how long it lasts!
Northsider
Modelling the Northern half of the Isle of Man
I've failed to upload a photo of chicken grit + PVA. I'll get out with a camera tomorrow to record the new version.
Northsider
Modelling the Northern half of the Isle of Man
An early foray outdoors produced these. First up, chicken grit plus PVA, then grit in sand & cement; then sand/cement/peat/pigeon grit, and finally a purer Rowlands mix, with a touch of grit mixed in. I'm aiming for an Isle of Man sleeper top/railtop earth/ballast look...
granddad gnome
Registered
Rowlands Mix?Northsider said:
Gizzy
A gentleman, a scholar, and a railway modeller....
Pete,granddad gnome said:
I found this quote;
Rowlands Mix was invented (I think) by a member of the society and consists of cement, sharp sand and peat in ratios of 1:3:3 or there abouts. It is porous but fairly tough and is supposed to encourage the growth of moss and lichens (16mm grass)
From this linky....
http://www.mplr.co.uk/building/
Northsider
Modelling the Northern half of the Isle of Man
Sorry: speaking fluent jargon! Rowlands mix is as per Gizzy's post above, though I altered it to 1 part cement to 2 each of sand, peat and grit. It is currently looking a bit dusty/friable, but won't have gained full strength yet -I only laid it the day before yesterday. A touch more cement would make it stronger.