Ballast
Ballast
Hi Guys,
Looking for a bit of advice on ballast, what material is used for ballast cheaply. I will have quite a large layout and ballast is quite pricey. I would like thoughts on crushed pumice and crushed walnut shell (possibly mixed) what grade would it need to be? I model in HO/OO gauge. I would say about 1mm -2mm size for the grade.
Where would I get it? I think that garden centres would be too large of a grade and ground pumice in beauty outlets would be too fine (powder)
Just need your thoughts and advice.
Cheers
Dave
Looking for a bit of advice on ballast, what material is used for ballast cheaply. I will have quite a large layout and ballast is quite pricey. I would like thoughts on crushed pumice and crushed walnut shell (possibly mixed) what grade would it need to be? I model in HO/OO gauge. I would say about 1mm -2mm size for the grade.
Where would I get it? I think that garden centres would be too large of a grade and ground pumice in beauty outlets would be too fine (powder)
Just need your thoughts and advice.
Cheers
Dave
- Walkingthedog
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Re: Ballast
I always use stone type ballast as sold. It goes a long way and doesn’t float when the glue is applied. On my O gauge layout I use OO ballast. When I had an OO layout I used N gauge.
Also when you glue what ever you use in place use a 80/20 mix of water/PVA, it doesn't dry like concrete but more like toffee.
Also when you glue what ever you use in place use a 80/20 mix of water/PVA, it doesn't dry like concrete but more like toffee.
Nurse, the screens!
Re: Ballast
I bought a load of chinchilla sand from Wilkos for mine. As it stands, there is too much dust in it, so I ran it through a very fine sieve first to extract the gritty bits for use on the layout.
"Not very stable, but incredibly versatile." ![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
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Re: Ballast
Hi Guys,
Took some advice from SteveM, however, I went to pets at home and got this calci sand, to me, it looks about the right size granular at about 1mm. See photo.
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/dk72vSrC/1-F09-B89-D-3148-44-CB-848-E-A8-D6-A8070618.png)
Wondering how it will turn out and what are the views of seasoned modellers?
BR
Dave
Took some advice from SteveM, however, I went to pets at home and got this calci sand, to me, it looks about the right size granular at about 1mm. See photo.
![Image](https://i.postimg.cc/dk72vSrC/1-F09-B89-D-3148-44-CB-848-E-A8-D6-A8070618.png)
Wondering how it will turn out and what are the views of seasoned modellers?
BR
Dave
- Walkingthedog
- Posts: 4926
- Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2018 5:51 pm
- Location: HAZLEMERE, BUCKS.
- Contact:
Re: Ballast
We all have our own taste when ballasting. If it works for you go for it. You may have started a new trend.
Nurse, the screens!
Re: Ballast
Quick question, how fine was the sieve? standard kitchen one, or something else?
Father, IT Guy, HO/OO Modeler.
Re: Ballast
A very cheap tea strainer
"Not very stable, but incredibly versatile." ![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
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