Ok, I finally found the correct color ballast (Mauve for C&NW & Santa Fe) by “AZ Rock & Mineral Co.” BUT I could only find it in the MEDIUM size at Hobby Haven in Des Moines. I also have (Pink Lady) ballast from “Smith & Son Ballast” but it is the WRONG color although FINE in size.
My quandry is do I use the incorrect ballast color because its more prototypical in size or do I go ahead and use the correct ballast color and live with it being a tad larger than the real thing?
The REAL ballast is in fact MAUVE and approximately 3" to 5" size in real life. The medium I believe is very very close to the real size, maybe a smidgeon larger.
This is HO size and the atlas snap track is only there for comparison. I use Shinohara track on the layout.
Heres a picture with both. The Mauve is on the right hand side…
Hmmmm! that’s a tough call, I’m leaning towards the larger size, it’s certanly the better color option. I like being able to see the spaces between the stones…looks a little less like sand.
I just checked their website. You’re right, its not that good. Pics are difficult to see. They say that HO mainline is medium ballast, so I should be OK. I just like the look of the fine ballast, and I’m not going to buy six more bags plus pay $11 shipping for their minimum order just to get the fine ballast. I’ve got 2 bags of medium now and only about 20’ or so of track to ballast. Thanks loather for the website tip.
I would try to reduce the size of the mauve ballast by bagging some of it and using a small chipping hammer to sort of pulverize it into smaller pieces…couldn’t hurt to try a couple of spoonfuls.
Hey Don. Thanks…this actually works. I’ve taken 2 quality [:)] ziplock bags and dumped 4 or 5 spoonfuls in and then gently with a ball peen hammer pulverised the rock. Its not as small as the fine, but it certainly reduces some of the larger pieces and you can tell a difference.
I usually like to go with fine ballast in HO, especially for the WS ballast. I’ve used Smith and Sons (he’s local here in NE OH) and its nice stuff, you just need to sift it first to get rid of the dust.
Here’s a thought, what if you mixed the two together, say 2 parts medium to 1 part fine. See how that works. The medium in this case is not too bad, it would help to see it applied across the width of the roadbed as it would be when finished.
At $4.75 a bag I’ll go to the quarry and bag my own. I have three quarry’s within 20 miles of me [:D]and if I’m going to sift it anyways I believe I can talk them out of a few pounds of wash-screening.
Hey Mom, what did you do with those Hospital pans things?[}:)]
