Scale Coal, Ballast and Plastic Animals

[Jumijo]

I went to a pet store yesterday to see what aquarium gravel looked like. I was considering using it for ballast around tubular track, but wasn't real impressed with the look or the price of most of it. I did happen upon something that I did like however. Containers of charcoal for filtering. The pieces were very very small. Perfect for O guage coal, and it looked absolutely convincing.

Still looking for ballast, I happened to look down at my brick sidewalk and noticed the "stone dust" I'd swept between the bricks. A 50 lb. bag can be bought for roughly $3.00 at a home improvement center, and it looks perfect. I'm going to try it on my layout.

WalMart had a bunch of inexpensive 1/43 scale 1950's and 60's (and modern) trucks and cars in the toy section. $1.97 each. They also had several assortments of plastic farm animals that were extremely close to O guage size. Those were $.88 a bag, so I splurged and got two. They also had jungle animals and dinosaurs if that's your thing.

Just thought I'd pass some bargains along.

Jim

[ChiefEagles]

Jon Englehardt uses chicken scratch from the feed store. Maybe he will give more info. Buckeye uses some kind of rubber pieces that are O ballast.

[Jumijo]

I'm not sure what stone dust is actually made of, but I thought I read on one of the bags I have that it's pulverized marble. I'll check tonight. It's a medium gray color and I think it looks just right for ballast.

Chief, you might want to look into that charcoal stuff at the pet stores. It might be cheaper to fill your hoppers with than hobby "coal". Prices ranged from $5 - $30, depending on how big a container of it you want, and man, it was realistic!

Jim

[jonadel]

Jim,

I do use chicken grit, fine, and we really like it. If you are in a rural area just go to the local elevator and ask about it, it's pulvarized granite. We think it looks good and we ballasted MTH Realtrax which is probably overkill but then, it's our pike and we'll do what we like[:)] Take a look at our web site and you'll get a better idea.

Good luck!

Jon

PS--all we did was use wet water and it bonded very well

http://jands.logicalgeek.com

[lionelsoni]

Jon, that's fine for you rural types who have access to wet water. All we can get in the city here is regular dry water...;-)

[jonadel]

Jim, you do know what wet water is I hope?

Jon

[Jumijo]

Thanks, Jon

I'm guessing that stone dust and chicken grit/chicken scratch is the same thing, just named differntly in different parts of the country. Tonic here is soda or pop there. Be it marble or granite, I was hoping to put it down dry. I can see why you would need to glue it down to the RealTrax roadbed.

Heading over to your site now. Thanks for the link.

Jim

[Jumijo]

Jon,

Great photos! The chicken grit looks awesome as ballast!

I know what wet water is, but not sure of the ratio. It's a 50-50 mixture of white glue and water, right? I may end up spraying it over the top of the finished ballast, but I'd rather just leave it un-adhered to fascilitate any changes later on down the road. I think once it settles, it stays put, no?

Yours looks extremely convincing. Nice job!

Jim

[lionelsoni]

Actually, I believe "wet water" is water with a little detergent in it, not the glue-water mixture.

[jonadel]

Jim,

We use more water than glue, about two to one. Someone else might have the exact formula. I went to our local drug store looking for eye droppers, the Pharmacist--a good friend gave me several free eye/ear/droppers and that's what we use instead of spraying, just seems to more accurate but it still takes time. I like the way the ballast stays put and it actually got a little darker once we got it wet and the dust came off, it's a slow process to be sure. I have had to redo some spots and the grit comes up easily with a putty scraper. I think if you don't glue it down it's going to go everywhere.

Keep us posted as to your progress and good luck, it really finishes the track and it's cheap.

Jon

[Jumijo]

Thanks for the tips, Jon. I'll keep your good suggestion about glueing it down in mind.

Bob, I've heard "wet water" used to describe both the detergent/water mix you mention, and the glue/water mix. Is there another name for the glue/water solution?

Jim

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Fantastic layout!!! I liked the humerous sceans. I saw seveal things I may copy!
Jim

[Anonymous]

I tried some stone dust, that I had leftover, from Lowes. I found it to be a little too course. Perhaps if it was screened it would be good. Also tried kitty litter. Also too course, messier to work with and wrong color.

Chicken grit, hmmmm

Bob

[jonadel]

OK, here's the latest answer from the wonderful lady that did 99% of the ballasting on our track. She first used water and several drops of liquid dish detergent mixed together to wet the ballast then she used 3 parts water to one part glue with the ear dropper. It's good to have someone in this house with a memory[:)]

Jon

[Jumijo]

The bagged stone dust from home centers does seem to be much more course than the stuff you buy at landscape yards. I tried putting stone dust down last night, and I can see why it needs to be glued. My biggest complaint, and it's a small one, was that the stones tended to protrude to close to the top of the rails. Could be problematic, especially when I need to clean the rails. I'll need to use less or tamp it down better, but I like the way it looks. But before I commit to the stone dust, I'm going to try and find chicken scratch here in Massachusetts. Maybe a Dodge Grain store in NH would sell it?

And guys, thanks for setting me straight once and for all on the wet water definition!

Jim

[cnw1995]

I didn't glue down the ballast - too permanent I guess for my set up. I just pack it together. Say, that gives me a possible prototypical job to do - need to get a Jordan spreader though...