Model Railway Forum

I am getting ready to put in some gravel parking areas on my OO gauge layout. What is the easiest to use? Would N gauge ballast work ? Or are there other techniques?

Thank you,

David

Cheapest thing would be fine sand. You can then paint it the correct colour.

Wet & dry car sanding paper sheets work well.

Well, that's convenient Brian, I was just experimenting with that. Doesn't look too bad does it? R-

Looks very good.

I used very fine sand and touched it up with different shades of stone colour with a nearly dry brush.

I agree with using wet and dry paper in the finer grades - even the finest ballasting materials look over scale.

Personally I think W&D paper is too uniform to depict gravel though it is fine for a tarmac road surface. I'll post my effort later, but I'm just off to the KLMRC ex in Kings Lynn

I may as well have a go as well.
I mix playpit sand, also known as silver sand, with dry plaster powder and stick it down with dilute PVA. Then paint it with acrylics, Browns for gravel, greys for tarmac.

Yes I use silver sand too - good results.