A quick tip that will make the job easier.
I keep be asked about the mix for holding the ballast in place. So hears a few tricks 40% PVA 60% with a good squirt of washing up liquid. mix it up and leave it stand for few days. Then use the smaller bottle to add the mix. Why leave? This lets the wasing up liquid do its job and breakdown the surface tension. It should split when you come back to it a quick shake will put it right you can add a touch more PVA if you need to but not to thick.
pete waterman
April 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I’ve found that spraying ballast with Rubbing Alcohol seems to break the surface tension. “Ballast can be adjusted if needed at this point as long as it stays moist. Then I apply my “mix” of a white glue and a bit of water.
I have the spray bottle of rubbing alcohol (91%) around for other uses. It’s a fair to middling cleaning solution for some things (Like my spectacles!) I’ve used it on wet/dry sanding projects. Heck, I’ve even used it to clean SOME computer equipment- (I’m old enough to remember when we used this on tape drive components- anyone that old. And yes I’ve used it on my “mouse ball” too though some say acetone it better. It also breaks the bond of some contact cements.
Of course in N scale I don’t use the same quantities of ballast some of you use.
Gordon