I’m going to be buying some Arizona Rock HO scale ballast. Either 1382 or 1383. Wondering if anyone has experience with these? I’d like to know roughly now many scale feet of track a bag will cover. I have code 83 rail on top of Midwest cork. Want to make sure I buy enough. Thanks! George
Depends on how high the ties are, and how wide you want the ballast slope. I have Atlas code 83 flex track and the ties are taller(by about .015") than Walthers code 83. I ballast all the way down the side of the roadbed. I get about 12-15’ per bag of ballast. I have done about 80’ and have used up at least 5 bags so far. My sidings and yard tracks are ballasted with ‘yard mix’ - about 3+ bags…
Jim
Jim, I too have Atlas code 83 flex and plan to ballast the side of the roadbed all the way down. So your answer is just what I needed. Thanks!
George
Jim,
Thanks for the info!!!
As I have not started a full sized layout, I had not even considered consumption factors…!!
My sister gave me a dresser drawer face from a damaged furnature piece, (Furnature Store Manager) & I experimented with A.R.& M. products, even if it was a quick & not so very serious attempt.
Pretty impressed with their products…
Its a pleasure to use compared the walnut shells. [tup]
Another tip that works for me, especially to help work the ballast profile, is to paint straight white glue on the roadbed sides and sprinkle on a bit of ballast. This helps to act as a small dam while spreading ballast, especially outsides of the rail. Many times where ballast will continue of fall off on a slope, place tape, cardboard to help from wasting the ballast. Do remove the tape after sweeping excess along the rails and doctor up the remaining profile before you glue it down.
After I ballast I sweep the area with an old paint brush, gather the ballast into a container, run it through a sieve, and reuse it. There is always plenty of waste with ballasting and Arizona Rock / Mineral ballast is too good to just vacuum up and dispose of.
Dave Nelson