I have just started to ballast one small area of my layout. HO scale, Woodland Scenics fine gray mixed, alcohol, and diluted white glue 1 X 3.
I did small sections at a time, letting one track dry before doing another track. When I was starting the second section of track I was shocked to see the new ballast, same color, was lighter than what I had completed.
I know paint drys darker... I have to admit I was a bit surprised. Did the alcohol effect the color of the ballast?
It is not a big thing, the track and ballast look fine but I was just wondering...
Bob
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Well known fact that ballast will be darker after fixed in place. WS is not rock but crushed and died walnut shells. Even when I do just sand it gets darker. I believe that when the diluted glue dries it seals in the moisture from the initial wetting agent. As long as you use the same color through out the layout it will look fine. Even if you change brands try to feather out a mixture of brands so the effect will not be so drastic.
Pete
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I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
And an India-ink wash and some general weathering won´t hurt either .
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Even abrupt changes in color can be protypical. I have seen places where they have replaced a section of track and ties and used a ballast from a different scource, different color.
Have fun,
There can be subtle differences in the colors of packages of Woodland Scenics ballast. Unless there was some sort of newly introduced contaminant in your glue or cement or matte medium, I suspect it is akin to the need knitters have for using the same "dye lot" of the wool in a sweater.
There is a prototype for this. The Chicago & North Western long got its "pink lady" ballast from the Rock Springs quarry near Baraboo WI, and as the quarry dug into the hillside the color got pinker and pinker. So for example a crossing that needed reballasting because loose ties were "pumping" up mud, the fresh ballast, although also pink lady, would be an entirely different shade. As suggested above, either live with it or, also as suggested above, a bit of india ink plus alcohol in a sprayer can unify the ballast shades.
Dave Nelson
locoi1saWell known fact that ballast will be darker after fixed in place.
Well known to you and maybe others, but not to me.
Dave: Thank you to you and the others. That is information that is nice to know, especially the prototype examples. If I am not able to match the ballast color I purchased about 10 years ago I will not worry about it.
I always mix the old and new batches of ballast together in a large coffee can. This way it all looks the same. (doesn't help if you've already laid down the old stuff.)
The wetting/glue mix seems to wash the dust off the ballast leaving it darker looking. Your new ballast should darken up too one you've glued it down.