Working on ballasting my mainlines. Look great when I put it down dry, but when I wet it with my dilluted glue mixture (white glue, water, dishwasher liquid) it turns serveral shades darker and retains the “wet” look even after dry. Can I use Dullcoat (or is there another product) on ballast to soften the color? Will it help it look “dry” again.
Thank you Gentlemen! I would never gotten this far, and as satisfied with the results, if it wasnt for the wise counsel of so many on this forum!
Real stone ballast will do this. I found that I needed a lighter shade to end up with the color wanted. I experimented with all sorts of ballast for the club layout until all were satisfied with the color. For majority of mainline I use a mix of WS fine gray and Sceneic Xpress. It provided the salt and pepper look of the granite stone ballast for our area. Arizona rock offers some really nice ballast also.
If the color is way too dark for your liking, Dull coat won’t do much for lightening. As it ages and accumulates some dust it will get lighter to a degree, but if you need to really change the color, you could try Joe Fugate’s method of powdered tempra paint. Might just work. Joe uses it to show darkened spots between the rails, but you might get the opposite effect for lightening the ballast. Could give it a try.
Thanks Bob - yes I am using real stone ballast from Arizona Rock & Mineral. I really couldn’t find what I wanted with WS products. Yes, I thought too with time and dust it will probably lighten and dull. Guess I will have to be patient.
Take a look at Joe’s trackwork, those varying colors of ballast are fantastic. I still wouldn’t shy away from any coloring if you’re unhappy with the results so far.
http://siskiyou.railfan.net/model/assets/trackDetail.jpg
Joe, I hope you don’t mind me posting this link.
Ballast darkens a bit after gluing. I had that shiny problem with white glue mix. I switched to Mod Podge Matte medium and that dried nice and flat. I tried spraying dull coat, but that actually turned out more shiny than just plain matte medium after it dried.
Can I apply the Mod Podge Matte medium to my existing glued ballast or only beneficial when used in substitution to white glue? If only good with as a gluing agent, I guess I could put down another top coat of ballast using Matte medium.
An additional “coat” application of matte medium can go directly on the existing ballast. No need to add any more ballast. At least this will flaten the shine. Who knows, maybe the flat look may even appear lighter. Can’t hurt…
Wayzata-Shouldn’t hurt anything. I did over my section of shiny white glue mix and it dulled it out.
Thank you gentlemen - I’ll be off to the hobby /craft store today to get Mod Podge Matte medium. I’ll test it on a small section first.
Why not just airbrush te ballast the color you want. Lay down a base coat then go back with thinned colors of various shades to weather it properly. Should be quick and easy,rather than dribbling on more glue.