Thinned craft paint (1 pt paint to 8 parts water) randomly dabbed on with a brush adds some depth to ballast and might also tone down the sparkles. Raw umber and burnt umber work well. Try on an obscure spot or test piece and wait until first application is dry before judging if more is needed.
Some rock ballast looks kinda like beach sand, rounded and uniform with lots of shiny translucent granules. My preferred rock ballast is Arizona Rock & Mineral NP blend, prior fav. was Highball Limestone grey (defunct?), my eyesight isn't what it used to be, but can't detect any shininess with either.
At one time some of the mfg./vendors provided ballast sample packs. What looks good in an internet pic might not under one's chosen layout lighting. Some ballast can darken or change hue, sometimes dramatically after application of wetting agent/glue mixture.
Mfg. sometimes change blends, especially if their access to raw material is lost, or they go out of business. If continuity of ballast color/blend/texture or other feature is important it's best to collect all that will be required in case of future unavailability.
Happy ballasting and regards, Peter
rrebell Thats why I don't use real stone for ballast, alot seem to sparkle.
Thats why I don't use real stone for ballast, alot seem to sparkle.
Rich
Alton Junction
Probably because some real stone, including some ballast, sparkles........?
richhotrain kasskaboose Do other types of ballast look sparkly or just the #50 from SE? I am currently ballasting my HO scale layout with Scenic Express #40 ballast, but I am using matte medium, not white glue. I do not see any shininess or sparkliness. Rich
kasskaboose Do other types of ballast look sparkly or just the #50 from SE?
Do other types of ballast look sparkly or just the #50 from SE?
I am currently ballasting my HO scale layout with Scenic Express #40 ballast, but I am using matte medium, not white glue. I do not see any shininess or sparkliness.
kasskaboose Do other types of ballast look sparkly or just the #50 from SE? Every brand of ballast I have used always looks too bright to me. I use white glue and water to glue it down. Maybe that's the problem.
Every brand of ballast I have used always looks too bright to me. I use white glue and water to glue it down. Maybe that's the problem.
Even though the ballast is already down and glued, apply diluted matte medium with an eye dropper over the finished ballast. Use a 4:1 water to matte medium ratio. Good luck with whatever you do.
I brush on a thin black wash to dull down ballast.
Applied with a dry, clean, artist's brush-Talcum powder, tempera paints powder.
Or, try well-stirred scenic cement (Walthers), or diluted matte medium....
I mix a little India Ink with water and put it on the ballast with an eyedropper. Sparingly.
I am using Scenic Express #50 blended natural stone ballast. Glued down with WS scenic cement so it has no shine but if the light hits some grains just right it looks sparkly like crystal or diamonds. What can I do to get rid of the sparkle?