Arizona Rock and Minerals

[mobilman44]

I too have used both Arizona and WS ballast, finishing up the layout last year.  I did about 80 percent of the layout with WS, the rest with Arizona rock.  For me, the Arizona was a pleasure to work with.  Simply said, it didn't "bounce or ricochet" as the WS does.  Of course the Arizona is more expensive, but to me it is worth it.

All that said, if you ballast your track before doing the rest of the ground cover, then WS is OK.  But using after you have placed your grass/turf/dirt ground cover, you will find that granuals of the white/grey ballast will stick out like the proverbial sore thumb all over the place.

 

[jrbernier]

  Maybe they have changed it.  Mine 'floated' just like other colors of W/S ballast I have used.  The W/S rep at the NTS told me they use walnut shells. 

[rrinker]

 If the grey WS is walnut shells, those are the hardest walnut shells I've ever seen. I've tried pulverizing them with a hammer.

Never had it float, either. I have hard water, ground foam flaots away if I use soapy water as a wetting agent. i use alcohol, on ballast and foam and everything else. Never floats away. No idea on other colors, the grey matches what the protoype I model used, so I never tried WS brown or other colors.

                                            --Randy

[jrbernier]

  ARM is real stone, not ground up walnut shells.  It does not 'float' when applying it.  I have used both and ARM is my choice.

[HO-Velo]

Arizona Products page at armballast.com   

I really like the ARM products, but a heads-up about the NP Gray & Empire Builder basalt ballast, both darken appreciably after being glued down with Elmers white glue/H2O mixture and dish soap/distilled H2O wetting agent.  

Regards, Peter

 

[kasskaboose]

How does this compare to WS for cost and reliability?

[richhotrain]

rrinker

 Their DNS was just updated 10/7, so it probably hasn't propogated out yet. I can't resolve that name either, but MX Toolbox finds it. Or Comcast is messing with DNS again. 

That could explain it. Comcast is my provider.

Rich

[rrinker]

 Their DNS was just updated 10/7, so it probably hasn't propogated out yet. I can't resolve that name either, but MX Toolbox finds it. Or Comcast is messing with DNS again. I don't feel like mucking with my router right now to try Google DNS to see if it works better.

                                           -Randy

[richhotrain]

BigDaddy

 

richhotrain

I couldn't access this site just now. Rich 

It worked for me at 8 pm edt. on Monday

Weird. I still cannot access the site this evening.

[BigDaddy]

richhotrain

I couldn't access this site just now. Rich

It worked for me at 8 pm edt. on Monday

Ed sent me his comparison pics.  On the left is the real ballast from UP, the old SP, on the main going throught Berkley CA.  On the right is ARM 1302 which they also call 130-2 Northern Pacific gray.  He has managed to match these up, tie for tie.

 

[richhotrain]

BigDaddy

I just discovered they have two websites.  This must be what you refer to as the new one:   http://www.rrscenery.com/

They have tutorials, which is a good thing.  

I couldn't access this site just now.

Rich

[7j43k]

BigDaddy

I invite people to post pictures.  Make this a reference thread. 

Maybe in 15 years someone will tell me which powder/ballast # I should order.  

 

 

I can't post photos here.  But I will gladly forward my comparison matchup to anyone who wants to post it.

Henry, PM me your e-mail address, and I will send it to you for your edification and amusement.

 

Ed

[BigDaddy]

I invite people to post pictures.  Make this a reference thread. 

Maybe in 15 years someone will tell me which powder/ballast # I should order.  

[7j43k]

I did a size comparison between Arizona Rock HO ballast and the real thing (mainline through Berkeley CA).   Matched up just about perfect.

Once I figured what I wanted, I placed the order on the phone with "the guy".

 

Ed

[hon30critter]

Henry:

Thanks for starting a thread on ARM and for pointing out that they have two websites. I found the tutorials to be very informative.

Dave

[SeeYou190]

I have dozens of bags of Arizona Rock & Mineral materials squirreled away for my final layout.

.

I have nothing but good things to say about them.

.

If you are going to mail order them, find a dealer smart enough to used the USPS Flat Rate Priority boxes and you will save a lot of shipping charges.

.

-Kevin

.

[RR_Mel]

I’m happy with their ballast size but I do think it’s a bit on the large size but the N scale is too small.  I bought some of their N black ballast and ended up using it for roofing material.  The HO scale SP/CSX ballast works great for gravel roads and parking lots.

 

The only other ballast I’ve tried is Woodland Scenics and the ARM looks better to me.

 

I’ve used ARM materials for all kinds of stuff all over my layout.  The Tan Granite really looks like gooey mud if you seal it with a satin finish.

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[BigDaddy]

Are you happy with the size of their HO ballast?

[RR_Mel]

I’m really sold on ARM products if they haven’t changed.  I checked to see when I made my last purchase, it was in 2014.  I still have a minimum of 5 packages of each material.

 

This picture was taken in 2012 and the road still looks the same today.

 

 

The Big Boy is gone and trees and greenery have been added over the years but the close to twenty five year old ARM road looks the same today as it did when the Mel Road Construction Company originally paved it.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[BigDaddy]

I just discovered they have two websites.  This must be what you refer to as the new one:   http://www.rrscenery.com/

They have tutorials, which is a good thing.  When you click on shop it takes you to this one, which is the one I first landed on:

http://armballast.com/

If you click on a powder number, you get to see a picture of the powder.  You still need to click on each number to work your way through the product line.  But that is better than I thought.

There are videos on youtube and on the site. I assume the owner is the star.  Like us, he is far from the millenial generation..

 

[RR_Mel]

BigDaddy

I've only read good things about their products and Mel posted some pics of his excellent road building skills in this thread

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/272280.aspx

Their website leaves much to be desired, with drop down menus of product numbers and often no accompanying description or pictures.  They are active on Facebook, but they give their products short shrift while showing off their other modeling skills.  Rant over.

Question for Mel, how much road can you build with that bag of powder?

Does anyone use their powders for asphalt roads, if so which ones?

If we have any aspiring authors in Phoenix, maybe they could run up the road and visit the company, take lots of pictures and write a story for MR

 

That’s a very good question Henry! 

 

After a lot of thought I would say about four linear feet per package using it ⅛” thick and 3” wide.

 

I have about 12’ of 2½” to 3½” wide by ⅛” thick asphalt roads and I started out with five packages of powder. 

 

During construction when I got down to the last package I placed another order.  The gravel and ballast seem to go faster than the powders when used as roadways.

 

I ordered more a couple of years ago because I picked up on a rumor about the owner selling the business.  I still have a very good supply of all the ARM materials that I use from the original owner, should last me until I’m pushing up grass.

 

I’m assuming it is under new ownership mainly because of the completely new look of the web site. 

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[BigDaddy]

I've only read good things about their products and Mel posted some pics of his excellent road building skills in this thread

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/272280.aspx

Their website leaves much to be desired, with drop down menus of product numbers and often no accompanying description or pictures.  They are active on Facebook, but they give their products short shrift while showing off their other modeling skills.  Rant over.

Question for Mel, how much road can you build with that bag of powder?

Does anyone use their powders for asphalt roads, if so which ones?

If we have any aspiring authors in Phoenix, maybe they could run up the road and visit the company, take lots of pictures and write a story for MR