Two questions that i am wondering...

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,
I have two questions for everyone my first one is for people that have used woodland scenics ballast, i want to know what is the difference between fine, medium, and course ballast and which out of the three is better for scale for o gauge track. My second question is how would i go about making custom buildings for an o gauge layout, and where could i get the plans for them?[(-D]

[ndbprr]

In answer to your ballast question real ballast is in the 4" size. Since O gauge is about 1/4" to the foot you need a ballast that is 1/3 of that. so 1/3 x 1/4 = 1/12 of an inch. Since there are 4/16 in 1/4 of an inch 1/16" across would be a scale three inches. I think that most of us think erring on the smaller side is preferable and more realsistic any way so get something about 1/16" or slightly larger in diameter.
In answer to your second qestion. Any plan given in real dimensions can be made in any scale using a ruler designed for that scale. If the dimension is 16'5" in real life you measure off 16'5" on the scale ruler and you have your piece for your building. You can get them at hobby shops or I'm pretty sure Walthers carries them. How to put the parts together is a different question entirely.

[Anonymous]

Another way to get workable plans is to 'size' them in a reducing Xerox to appropriate scale via using the "% increase/decrease" function button. You can then take measurments directly from the plans. I've done this with success where I had a picuture and knew only one dimension with certainty.

Randy

[jrbarney]

Anarchist,
Following up on Randy's suggestion, get a copy of Converting scale drawing sizes, which was published in the Workshop column, conducted by Keith Thompson. It's on page 24 of the September 1994 issue of Model Railroader. It gives you the enlarge/reduce percentages for scales from Z to O. Depending upon the quality of the optics in the photocopier there may be some distortion, but if you're alert for it, you can correct for it.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

well i think i shouldv'e been more specific on my question but anyways, whats the difference between the three types of ballast, and ndp actually did answer a part of it which by the way thank you for that, but i mean besides scale how do each of the three compare to eachother, i mean my uncle has given me his old mr magazines from like 1999 to 2000 and i have looked through all of them even read most of the articles and in them they highly recomend woodland scenics but me having little to no expertise in the field of model railroading i have no clue on what to even do next or where to even start, but hey i mean i like the fact that people are willing to take time and help me out.