I am modeling in HO, late steam. I need to put in some gravel roads and parking areas. I just looked at a youtube using cement mix that has been ground in a blender and sifted. And then there are numerous steps after that. I would like to know if anyone would like to tell me about other ways to get realistic HO gravel for roads, etc. I know there are commercial products out there put I don’t know which ones would actually look realistic in HO.
Thanks for any and all input.
wdcrvr
I use Arizona Rock & Mineral ballast for gravel roads and their tan powder for dirt roads.
Gravel Roads: #138-2 CSX Southern Pacific Wabash Ballast
Dirt Roads: #123-0 Base Color Powder Tan Granite
I spread the material out then add a white glue/water mix (8:1). I use 1” to 3” putty knives to smooth it out into a road.
I recently added an alleyway behind some stores. It was made with Woodland Scenics fine grey blend ballast and Scenic Express fine dirt. I used diluted white glue to hold everything down.
Here the alleyway is in bad shape, almost totally gone.
Driveways of various ages.
A parking lot.
All these were made using the same material just different amount of ballast and dirt.
I use fine sand, with dry-brushed acrylic paint for the tire tracks.
FWIW, I would follow Rob Spangler’s lead and use very fine materials to represent HO scale gravel. The individual stones should be barely visible outside of the travelled areas and almost invisible in the travelled areas. Your HO scale figures would break an ankle walking on anything coarser than that.
[2c]
Dave
How do you hold the sand in place, with white glue?
Thanks
I use tile grout left over from the endless renovations done around the house. No need to glue it down as I use different washes to alter the colour and that acts as the glue. I throw a little fine ballast in spots and other things as well on top of the grout and I have been really happy with the results.[:)]
Yup I can relate to that technique Batman. It works really well. I’ll even use tile thinset as a base as well as sanded grout which is composed of silica sand which is very fine. As far as I’m concerned would work for any scale. Then I finish with unsanded grout in a lighter color mixed wet with a dry brush technique. They come in a wide variety of earth tones. I as well very pleased with the results
Edit. No use for white glue thinsets and grouts are fortified with their own adhesive and stick on their own. It’s a beautiful thing just add water and mix. You’re good to go.
Yup. Usually white glue diluted 50:50 with water. I typically apply the glue with a brush, and apply two coats of sand or more. I let each application dry completely before adding the next.
Rob’s looks pretty good [;)], but I have to say in most cases, the photo’s of gravel roads, whatever material people are using just looks way to coarse for HO as a rule. Err on going finer is my suggestion.
Many thanks for all the suggestions. At this point I am thinking of using Woodland Scenics Fine Gray Ballast for my ravel roads and parking areas. I think that I can get this to look ok with help from some dirt and other “crud”. Thanks wdcrvr
I did this gravel parking lot using N-scale WS ballast on my HO scale layout:
I’m happy with the result. The roads, by the way, are done with Durham’s Water Putty, coated with a wash of acrylic craft paint.
Just installed the parking lot using Woodland Scenics gray blen d ballast and Scenic Express fine dirt. Used diluted white glue to hold it down.
