How I did my ballast.

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
I have been asked by quite a few people how I have done the ballasting on my track (probably so they can avoid the techniques like the plague and do theirs nice instead).
Here is how I did it..........

OK, the 'main' line ballast is Woodland Scenics O gauge course ballast with a little of their O gauge medium sprinkled over very sparingly. Once the PVA/water mix has dried a watered down Rail Match sleeper grime is run over. Again once this has dried I dry brush with ash grey paint....
.....the 'ash' is a mix of black lizard sand, Chinchilla sand and talc. I made several different mixes with ever increasing amounts of talc in them. These could then be applied in a non uniform way so has not to make the ash all look the same.
The Ballast was fixed in place using the traditional way of a 50/50 mix of pva and water applied with a dropper over it once the ballast was in place. Due to the nature of the 'ash' mix, the best way to apply it is to put the pva/water mix onto the board first and then sprinkle the ash on top, packing it down well. Leave it to dry for at least two days.

It is all very easy to do but a little time consuming.

John :)

20200225_144556-1.jpg 20200315_081801.jpg 20200315_081814.jpg 20200315_081820.jpg
 

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
Nice to see John. Time spent on ballasting and weathering track is time well spent. No matter what angle you look from I find I am drawn to the trackwork.

I use the same basic techniques as yourself and simply take my time.

Here's a couple of photos of my efforts.

My latest work in progress on Sheep Dip. 20200314_221236-01.jpeg

Bleat Wharf. 20191013_161810-01.jpeg

Mutton. 20181108_203326-01.jpeg
Rob.
 

Prairie Tank

Western Thunderer
Rob that looks magnificent! I love the way you have done the joint gaps in the concrete, very realistic. Rusting on rails is first class too.

John :)
 
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