I have used medium and fine, as defined by Woodland Scencis that is, and for real rock ballast I have used ballast marked for HO, N and even Z.
One of the posters above mentioned that exact scale sized ballast looks too small so go with something larger. I do not necessarily agree with that, but in general I would say that yeah a scale 2x4 piece of lumber looks way too small small to our eyes compared to what it feels like to have a real 2x4 in your hand, and that is why you see things like fences and roof rafters built with oversized scale lumber. So i suppose the same can be true of ballast particularly since our rail is for the most part also oversized (as are many ties).
But I would also say that once you photograph a model that is when you notice how oversized the ballast, ral, ties, lumber, fences, etc etc really are. So if good model photography is a someday-goal, I'd go with fine ballast. One of the worst give aways in a model photograph is when grains of oversized ballast are sitting on top of a tie. In real life for sure you do see the random piece of ballast on top of a tie, but in some model photographs you wonder where all these boulders came from ....
Dave Nelson
My rule is imagine being an HO size figure, you will want to be able to pick up the ballast with one hand.
I say go with the "fine" size, try the HO scale figure test. If the granules are smaller then the HO figures hand...good to go.
Most of the time I notice "medium" size ballast doesn't pass this test. HO scale figure will need two hands to pick up the ballast
Chris
Fine or N scale in HO in combination with some Medium...Depends on the type of ballast being modeled.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
I started out using medium, and thought it really looked too big. Medium ballast is the size of a good sized rock -- the kind we make stone walls out of here in New England. Fine ballast is still oversized to scale, but it's a lot closer. Compare the grains to an HO scale figure and you'll see what I mean. That said, it really is a matter of personal taste.
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Asking about fine, medium or coarse suggests the commonly available Woodland Scenics brand, the only one in stock at many shops. I could suggest a real roack ballast product like Scenic Express. Their #40 grade works well for HO, and I prefer it to anything from Woodland Scenics.
The front track uses Scenic Express Dark Gray and the passing siding behind it is Blended Gray.
Smith & Sons, Highball and Arizona Rock and Mineral are other good brands of real rock ballast.
Rob Spangler
Thanks Batman for the info on the Ballast. It does seem that everyone has post mostly medium so that is what I will go with thank you so much.
Thanks Joe for the info it will work just great.
I used Woodland Scenics Fine.
I've even heard of some modelers going with N scale large ballast for HO scale track. I can't rremember the size I have. It does, to some degree, depend on personal preference. 2-4 scale inches is about right for ballast, however. That's about 0.035 inch in HO scale! I have not ballasted the track on my layout yet but have ballasted the track on several dioramas over the past few years.
Too many times if you actually try to scale the size for the ballast, it will not look right. For our viewing a slightly larger size tends to work better. It does come down to personal "taste" in what looks right for you. Experiment on some test track w/ medium and fine. You may find that the coarser med looks great for "new" well maintained mainline whereas, a finer or even use of silica or play sand will look better for yards (stained w/ washes of coarse)
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crazyhippo67 I am just getting back into model railroading since I was a kid and back then I never built scenery and things so. I am in Ho sscale and wanted to know what size ballast I needed to get for my train roadbed. Fine, Medium or coarse. Can anybody help.
I am just getting back into model railroading since I was a kid and back then I never built scenery and things so. I am in Ho sscale and wanted to know what size ballast I needed to get for my train roadbed. Fine, Medium or coarse. Can anybody help.
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I had the same question a few years ago, so the next time I passed a C.P. mainline I got out with my trusty tape measure and found the ballast was 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) That would be medium. That's what I bought and I think it looks pretty good.
Brent
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The size will depend on the look you want and to some extent the prototype you are modeling. If you are doing a freelance road you can go with what pleases you. In general the medium ballast is good for mainline track and fine is good for sidings and yard trackage. Some folks prefer the coarse variety for mainline use but that looks a little too coarse for me.
Joe