I even hate to write this as it makes my stomach cringe. Has anyone got a suuggestion on how to change ballast that is already laid down (fortunately only a relatively small area)? I put down WS gray and now feel it’s a little too dark. I would like to use the blended gray but am hoping when I do some scenicing the gray might not look so dark. I imagine the only real answer is to soak it down and remove the ballast and track and start over. Comments?
Ron K.
Ron
I had 2 thoughts,
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Maybe put a light re-ballast coat on it to lighten it up useing a new color. Real rail roads do thattime to time, switching colors. Were ever the cheapest comes from.
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maybe do light paint wash. Grab light color of arcylic paint, thin it down mayve 1 part paint, 4 parts water/acholic and wa***he ballast. See if that works. I know of few that darkened their ballast that way.
Well just some ideas. I guess it cant hurt if you have tear it up. Goodluck with however you go[:)]
I agree. I’m sure real ballast changes from area-to-area on the same main. However, I would try a wash first, a rather heavy one about three shades lighter than your ballast, and see what happens. If no, then a light dusting of the preferred stuff.
I did the very same thing. I thought the medium gray was too dark, so I removed it [had just done about a yard of track] and used the blended gray. It looks much better. I have a whole cannister of the darker ballast, so I may save it for car loads. I make my own coal loads for some cars which are too uniform; I cut a masonite filler strip, mold some Sculptamold into load shapes, paint with white glue, cover with ballast, and spray flat black.