Ballasting Model Railway Track the Easy Way 

Oh, and (minor) suggestion - sizing the screw cap for a mason jar might be more useful to some.

Thank you!! :)

Hi Earl, I have. 😀 It’s available from www.makeitminiature.co.uk Or in the USA from mpeterll who can be found on RU-vid. Also from Model Railway Techniques in Australia.

Thank you. I hope to have an update on this soon. James

Thanks Jim, I appreciate your feedback. :)

Thank you very much. It certainly is a time saver.

Thank you Pete, I'm pleased you like it.

Thank you Paul. I have designed a version with a built it hopper/shoulder former, which I'm sure would work very well indeed. The set-up shown in the video works really well without any extra 'clutter' and is great for other clean-up jobs too. My thoughts are that this ought to be available with two 'heads', one as you describe and the one shown in the video.

Hi James. I rather like this idea and also the shoulder former you mentioned in your reply to Paul James. I have a few questions: have your ideas progressed at all? You mentioned that it also worked on N gauge track; exactly the same tool? Although yet to start ballasting, I have bought a mini handheld vacuum cleaner for ballast and static grass. I don't know if all mini handheld vacuum cleaners are a standard size, but could you design/build an adaptor for the minis? Look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks Steve, I'm pleased that you like the idea.

Thank you very much. :)

Thank you Nigel, I hadn't expected such positivity so quickly in the comments. It's making me think I ought to take this further. I'm pleased you've been enjoying my videos, such feedback is rare in my day job - the kindness shown through the comments is really appreciated. My best wishes, James

I don't think you need to think about taking your invention further i would be applying for a patent on it now, what with your other abilities regarding model buildings etc which could be made in kit form in no time you be giving up your day job where it sounds like your talents are not appreciated, to be very much appreciated by all us modellers

Thanks Paul, you are too kind.

Thank you Keith. With the prospect of so much ballast to lay, and not much enthusiasm for the task, it was a case of necessity being the mother of invention. :)

Thank you Andy, I appreciate your feedback.

Thank you David, you always leave a positive comment, and your support is much appreciated.. I'm pleased you enjoyed the video. Best wishes, James

That's great, I'll post an update when they are available.

Thank you Ian and my best wishes to you. James

Thanks Bob, the Mk 2 version is quite the beast. :)

@@BexhillWest Will follow this up. Thank you

I will work on the idea a little more. It would be nice to take it into production, but I'm not sure of the best approach.

I think you have done probably the best thing by getting it seen on RU-vid to get the general feeling of modellers. Its a job many peopke hate and put off doing particularly in N gauge, ballast hoppers became and still are very popular, but yours easier and quicker as you demonstrated. If you have your own 3D printer produce some kits and let the big boys in railway modelling promote them. Good luck with your project James.

Thanks John, it makes the task a breeze. Fun to use too. :)

Thank you very much for your feedback. James

Thanks for the sub Jon, which facebook group was it. I'm on a couple myself but hadn't seen mention of the device anywhere. All the best, James

Thank you Eddy for your kind comments. I've considered every variation of this with all sorts of additional extras, but in all honesty I think the version in the video is the most useful. It seems to do it all it needs to with no fuss. :) All the best, James

Thank you Gary. I've tried this now in various configurations, and believe me, this simple first-effort is by far the best. Modifications to produce a tidy ballast shoulder have worked well, but hinder the wider use of the tool as a vacuum. If I could only find a way to get the idea out to the masses I'm sure it would be a winner. It needs to be dirt cheap though, and therein lies the problem. It may be that the best solution is simply to make the files available for 3d printing at home. I tried Shapeways and it was way too expensive. Thanks for the support though, it's much appreciated. :)

HI Alan, I'm pleased you enjoyed this. The design is registered, and I'm thinking about how to get this out-there. I thought it was a good idea and I'm pleased others can see the benefit as well. Thanks for watching, James

Thank you Geoff. I think that 3d printing these to sell myself will not be possible. I work full-time and just don't have the spare time available. I am considering looking into crowd-funding to see if there's a way to make these cheaply available to all. I'll keep you posted.

@@BexhillWest I know the feeling too well. I myself am working full time and when I get home I can often be up to the small hours 3d printing and generating stock for when the exhibitions and shows resume so I can sell the things I have made. At some point I need more than 3 hours sleep a night.

Thank you Greg - it really does seem to work like magic. I'm very pleased with it. :) I will post an update when I've figured out how to share the idea efficiently. Best wishes, James

Thank you Tony, I always strive for simplicity and am very pleased with this device.

Thanks David, you always leave a positive comment! 1. This works on a standard domestic vacuum cleaner. I've designed it to connect to my Numatic Henry, but I'm sure it would fit most. An adaptor ring would enable it to fit just about any vacuum I'm sure. 2. I designed this for OO, but tested it on N gauge too and it worked just as well which was a surprise! 3. My thoughts exactly, I think it would be perfect for lifting static grass. However to do which I think a filter inside the collector head might need to be added as the lightweight fibres would not drop from the cyclone separator. 4. I've already designed a couple...watch this space. :) Finally, the collection head will fit a wide range of containers as is. Thanks for the feedback, it's much appreciated! James

Thank you Vincent for your lovely comment. It was a special moment when we tried the gadget out and it worked perfectly - we were both chuffed!

Thank you Paul. It's quite fun to use, although ballasting is way off of becoming my favourite job. :)

Hi Bill, I have a Mk2 version already designed with some improvements. The concept is so simple that I'm sure it could be developed further. Watch this space, as they say!

Thank you Chas, I'm so pleased you are enjoying the content and thank you for your subscription. Hopefully, I'll have some positive news about this in the new year. Thanks for watching, James

Cheers Kev, it does indeed kick that method into the grass. When my printer is idle I'll have to run you one up to try. :)

Thanks James that would be good 😀😀👍🏾

Thank you Martin, I'm looking into it. I'll keep you all informed of the process. Thanks for watching. :)

Thank you Chris, I though of you when I tested the idea on some N gauge track. Although this was designed for OO it worked just as well on N gauge. I suspect it will work well on O gauge too. I have registered the design, so we will see if it's possible to take it further. All the best, James

Hi Len, I'm trying to get this thing off the ground and hope to have some news soon. I'm just too busy. I need another couple of days in the week to catch-up. :)

I couldn't agree more Gordon. I think a product like this should be available very cheaply, sub £10, after all it's just two bits of plastic and a pipe!. So far I'm not having much luck in finding a suitable manufacturer. :(

Thank you Jeff. I'll be posting another video of it in use very soon as I'm about to begin that particular chore at Bexhill West.

I have registered the design and will look into production opportunities. I think this concept could be very useful to many. I've got quite a catalogue of similar ideas, I just lack the commercial savvy! :)

Thank you, I will post an update video when there is something to report. Thanks for watching, James

Thank you Greg, I'm using a standard 'Henry' vacuum cleaner set on 'low', although it works just the same when switched to the 'high' setting. It really does make an irksome task rather fun. I reckon a yard of track could easily be ballasted and vacuumed ready for glue in less than a minute. Thanks for watching (again) :) James

Thank you Steven. Yes it can, I made a neat filter to go into the collection cap this afternoon and it seems to work very well. Next CAD video later in the week.

Hi Sid, I see you've commented upon an older video. Have you seen the latest version of this idea? Here's a video link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8bJEBXm5dT0.html Thanks for watching, James

Thank you Andrew, You raise some interesting points. The device does indeed just remove the excess ballast from above the sleepers. I've tried it with fine ballast and a coarser grades and the effect is the same. If raised above the track by the rail height it lifts only the loose ballast, but if pushed directly into a pile it will lift all in front of it. Although the principle has been around for some time, my innovation really has been the collecting head and the design optimization of the nozzle. In the video I'm using N gauge Gaugemaster ballast on OO track, as that it what I plan to use at Bexhill West. But the system worked just as well with each of the grades of ballast which I have to hand on both OO and N gauge. I don't have any O gauge track, but I'm confident that it would work the same. There is no need to control the suction as that variable is controlled by a vortex generator within the collecting head. I didn't detail that part in the video as it's a bit technical and I didn't want to bore the viewers. Especially, as I don't really know the technical jargon for doing so! I agree the idea isn't going to make me rich, but I am considering how I might be able to make a little from the idea with a view to being able to invest a little back into the channel so that I can make better videos. The design is registered so licencing may be an option, although I've no idea how to make that happen! :) Thanks for watching, James

Hi John, I think there's always an elegance to simplicity, which is what I always aim for. I've experimented with this some more today and its seems to work perfectly with different grades of ballast, and sand too. I would have every confidence in recommending the prototype for 12mm track. I'll let you know if and when I am able to share this more fully. Thanks for watching, James