1st post question on ballast

[cacole]

I have found that it is usually safe to ballast everywhere except around the moving parts of a turnout; i.e., between the moving point rails and at both ends of the throwbar.

I paint the roadbed gray before installing a turnout so the areas that are not covered with ballast are not as obvious, since the ballast is also gray.

I have walked real railroad tracks and observedd that they don't ballast around the moving parts of turnouts, either.  There is some ballast, but not up to the tops of the crossties like it is elsewhere along the line.

[ARTHILL]

Welcome to the forum. You are right, do not ballast around the turnouts. Some of the texture paint is water based and it will not hurt the road bed, but put it down before the track. If what you are after is a working yard track, scenic up a storm, but leave the track alone.

[alcofanschdy]

I'm starting a small time saver layout that I want to scenic.  I hate to ballast around turnouts so I thought I could cheat a little.  I'm using walthers roadbed and saw wal-mart had a spray texture paint in gray.  Would this work and not damage the roadbed?  Does anyone else have any ideas as an alternative?  Thanks in advance