The sometimes laborious task of installing ground cover is under way. The accompanying photo of the beginning stages of laying down ground cover is kinda boring ... but then so is the task at times.
The initial "layer" is ballast material from a company in northeast Ohio, and provided by model railroad friend Ken Heyl. It's gray in color and actually finely ground stone. Next comes a light layer of dirt, and that will be followed by various grasses. Each layer adds texture, and improves the look of the railroad. This "ground cover" process will be followed by ballasting the track. The entire railroad is an industrial area; thus the ballast will be somewhat haphazard and random, rather than the "sculpted" look of modern day mainlines.
Railroad friend Rick Pfarr got me started on this process, and it's simply a combination of a white glue and water mixture about the consistency (and color) of milk painted on the painted plywood, followed by a sprinkling of the ballast material. Another afternoon or two, and the first layer will be complete and awaiting dirt.
