Ballast

[gazzerk]

I have used light grey budgie grit!  It looks like finely broken sea shells but once sieved to remove the larger pieces it looks good.  It is still over scale but gives a nice rustic look that I like.  It has the added bonus of being very cheap (no pun intended) and it doesn't matter if it darkens on drying as it was quite light to start with.

[pilotfriend]

Copydex......a real 'rave from the grave'. We used it for the same purpose in the 1950s! Yes, it actually ends up brown with time.
JdF

[berryr99]

All

Well it is now some 3 months on since I started to experiment with different types of ballast.

Basically, all granite/slate "real" ballasts seem to change to change colour when using the tried and tested PVA and water process. The one exception to this was on an 009 layout I saw at this year's Doncaster show called "Bryngoch" where the operator (apologies, didn't ask name - very rude, I know) used this ballast with PVA and the colour stayed fast.

I have decided to use Woodland Scenic's products as they are colour fast, its just a case of trying to make the mix correct across a couple of types to get an authentic colour.

Bob

[duttonbay]

I have decided to use Woodland Scenic's products as they are colour fast, its just a case of trying to make the mix correct across a couple of types to get an authentic colour.

While Woodland Scenics ballast doesn't change colour when glued with PVA, it does fade over time, especially when subjected to UV (from daylight and fluoro tubes particularly). I have found it quite difficult to match colours when modifying track and re-ballasting, although admittedly some years later.

[invercloy]

Bob, any signs of the colouration of the copydex altering the colour of the ballast now that it's been down for quite a while?

I'm intrigued as I'm using copydex to glueing track to my layout at present, and was wondering about using it for ballast too.  It's working fine for the track, just a little concerned about colour alteration when it comes to more visible things like ballast.

[berryr99]

Tom,

Its been down about 3-4 months and the section I did is still OK. Not sure that if there was a colour change it would have ocurred by now though

Bob

[invercloy]

Great, thanks Bob.

[pugwash99]

Heard a lot about the Cascamite method but like a lot of people had problems finding it, good news! for anyone wanting to have a go try B&Q.

I picked some up last week and used it to good effect around the points, just mix it dry with your chosen ballast material and spray with luke warm water adding a few drops of washing up liquid, I prefer to use the type we use on the boat as it is clear no colour, more regulations but for our purpose it works well.