Scale sized ballast

[ironlake]

who makes a scale sized g scale ballast.  I want to mount my track for my K27 on a walnut board with scale sized ballast of the type used by the D&RGW.  Thanks in advance for any help and where to buy the ballast.

[armorsmith]

Many use a product called 'Chicken Starter Grit', used in agriculture for the smaller chickens or a product call decomposed granite.

[Bucksco]

Many folks use what is referred to as "Crusher fines". It is the fine silt that remains after rocks are crushed. Ususally available at a quarry or any place that sells decorative stone , etc....

[Chuck N]

The problem with crusher fines, is that they contain a lot of rock dust as well as reasonable sized chips.  I use that for my ballast outside, but he wants to make a decorative track for an inside display.  I think that the fines would be too messy for indoor display use.  In addition to possible chicken grit, try a pet shop and look at material that is sold for aquariums.

Chuck

[JerryB]

Chicken grit looks like . . . chicken grit! That especially on a display track.

Get some gray (granite) colored crusher fines and use a kitchen screen-type strainer to sift off the 'fines.' You will be left with scale appearing ballast for your display.

Happy RRing,

Jerry

[smcgill]

Did you want to mount the ballast on a display???

Some people use stones ment for aquariums.
I'm using some thing called "Rice stone"  granite from a stone yard.( Outside )
But as far as what the D&RGW used no clue?
Good luck.
Post a pic when you get er done!
Sean

[ironlake]

Yes on a display.  I get all the ballast on as I want and then spray it with water with a drop of dishwasher soap in it and then apply a mixture of 1/2 elmers glue and i/2 water.  Overnight it will be as hard as a rock and look nice and loose just like you applied it.

[Loco Bill Canelos]

There are several sizes of chicken grit, and I think if you use fine it will look very nice.
Do not get the oyster shell, only the decomposed granite. Since it is a display I suggest you weather both the ballast and the track. I usually spray the track and ballast with a dusting of grey primer followed by a dusting of spray black primer.   I hand paint the sides a reddish black working from a photo, then clean the rail tops If the track is brass I also paint the rail tops with a silver color to hide the brass color.

As for color I saw whitish grey, greyish black, and a light reddish gray. Last year on the C&TS they were using new ballast I would call Tan/light grey, which was very clean looking compared to areas with the older weathered in ballast.

[ironlake]

where do you get chicken grit?  I live in mn so I should know but do not.

[NarrowMinded]

Feed and grain stores or large pet store suppliers will carry it, though the pet stores may be a lot higher priced and have it in smaller bags or boxes.


NM-Jeff

[Loco Bill Canelos]

Sometimes the fine is hard to get, my farm store had to order it for me.  Most Farm stores will order it.  You could try Tractor Supply, or a COOP Farm store.   It is very cheap so even if you are forced to buy a large size at a farm store it will not be a budget killer.

[ironlake]

thanks guys for all the help.  this is a great forum and so friendly.  newbies like me feel treated like royalty when compared to other forums I have been on,

[Kevin Strong]

There's a company called Locomotion Works that makes a nice scale ballast mixed with Portland cement designed for holding ballast permanently in place. The stone is a nice scale size, and very uniform. Spread it on the track, mist it with water, and it sets up very solid in 12 - 24 hours. They'll send you a sample for a few bucks, which should be enough for a display track.

Locomotion Works
205 Mountside Drive
Columbus, NC 28722

828-712-3429

locomotionworks@gmail.com

(Their web site isn't up and running yet)

Later,

K