Morning! I went to HD for some furnace filter and spray paint to make trees. While there, I visited the garden center and noticed some pea-sized pebbles. Folks can use them for landscaping, etc. Would they also work as talus on an HO layout riverbed?
The other scenery-related question was what you use for securing ground foam to foam roadbed? I shake the foam onto wet latex paint and then shoot it w/ hairspray. That works great, but sometimes the foam gets loose. I then hit it w/ diluted matte medium per Frary’s guidelines.
I’m an amature also so take what I say with a grain of salt.
As for the pea gravel, in my opinion it would only be appropiate as river stone or in an environment where you would find smooth stone. Compare it with medium ballast which represents 3 to 4 inch stone or some HO item to gage the zize.
I’ve read about using hair spray and am also wondering as to how well it works especially over a period of time. I was thinking it might be used for trees if it has staying power. Also I don’t like getting the spray over a lot of stuff. With ground foam I usually place the foam and wet it by spraying it with rubbing alcohol and then dripping a 50 50 mixture of white glue and alcohol on it. It looks messy wet but looks good when it dries.
I think the pea gravel would look too big if a lot were used. There is a gravel called Birdseye that is not only smaller but the bits are all different shapes in the bag. I have seen this used in rivers and it looks great. Pea gravel can be effective on a low water boulder covered riverbank though.
I have a bag of red (think Sedona, AZ redrock color) landscape rock from HD (50 lbs $5). Next to an HO locomotive, the sizes range from largerocks to big boulders. Using it along the canyon wall interspersed with medium and fine WS sized talus. Looks good.