I am starting scenery work on My N scale model railroad layout. So I am trying come up with a approximate quantity of N scale fine ballast I would would need. Is there simple calculation for this or rule of thumb? I have approximately 185 feet of mainline track to ballast . I would like to WS fine grade track ballast. Can anyone help me. Thank You
I doubt that there is a definitive answer since it depends on a lot of factors, with or without roadbed, depth of the track ties, how much will be wasted. Ballast is not terribly expensive so buy a couple of lbs and see how far it goes, then buy more per your experience.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Buy one big cannister of WS ba!last. It should be enough, but buy more if it is not.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I googled it and found a post from someone in another forum of 1 WS can for 50 linear feet. As stated, there are variables in thickness and width.
Just because I read that on the Internet, doesn't mean it's true, but if it is, 2 or 3 cannisters would be a resonable starting point. Or you could order 4 and ebay what you don't need it. If you have a LHS, that's a different consideration.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I don't know about figuring how much ballast you need, but buy it all at
the same time then mix it together. I have had the same batch color be a little different shade. Makes for odd looking track.
Have fun.
Phil, CEO, Eastern Sierra Pacific Railroad. We know where you are going, before you do!
LION uses cat litter on the HO railroad of him
If in N scale I was running, Id look in a place that sells sandblasting supplies (or look one up on the internet) then you can get a 50# bag of whatever you like.
As for the leftovers, you can put them into 2 - 5 pound baggies and sell them to the suckwers on the internet.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Ballast is certainly not the most expensive item when you build a layout, so buy any amount you think you need. What´s the risk?
If you buy too little, buy some more, if you buy too much, what´s the loss?
I always bought too much!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Has anyone used beach sand for ballast?
Joe Staten Island West
joe323 Has anyone used beach sand for ballast?
I have used sand applied the same way as ballast, but it was on a minor spur and intended to look little used. The sand was very fine and did not look like main line HO scale ballast, but it wasn't supposed to.
My layout was 100 square feet in HO with a lot of track. I ballasted everything with 2 big cannisters of WS medium ballast.
joe323Has anyone used beach sand for ballast?
Wouldn't it likely have a high salt content? Would you want to wet it next to your track?
BigDaddy joe323 Has anyone used beach sand for ballast? wouldn't it likely have a high salt content? Would you want to wet it next to your track?
wouldn't it likely have a high salt content? Would you want to wet it next to your track?
Only a problem if your track has high blood pressure.
Thank You all for Your Help.