Hi all,
I have just begun ballasting! I did what some do; spread the ballast, spray wetted water, use an eye dropper to drop the glue solution on. However, the Woodlands Scenics medium gray ballast I am using turned very dark gray. Is there a way to prevent this? Am I doing something wrong?
-H
HappyWarrior Hi all, I have just begun ballasting! I did what some do; spread the ballast, spray wetted water, use an eye dropper to drop the glue solution on. However, the Woodlands Scenics medium gray ballast I am using turned very dark gray. Is there a way to prevent this? Am I doing something wrong? -H
No, pretty much all scenery (ballast included) darkens when glued. Since there really is no way (that I know of) to prevent it, my suggestion is to use a shade, or two, lighter in color than what you want, so when it dries, it's close to the shade you're looking to achieve.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I have used Woodland Scenics Medium ballast on my HO scale track.
First of all, the ballast will lighten somewhat closer to its original color as the glue solution dries. I have found that the more water used in the mixing ratio, the greater the chance that the ballast will dry closer to its original color. Less water in the mixing ratio with the glue causes a darkening, somewhat yellowing, effect.
Second of all, instead of Gray, you might try Light Gray which, when dry, will look more like what you want.
Third of all, you could do what I do. I use a blend of Gray and Light Gray to ballast my track, equal proportions of each color.
Rich
Alton Junction
Is it possible to weather the ballast with powdered chalk (as I don't own an airbrush)?
You can use chalks. I've used mixtures of tempera paint and plaster to dust the ballast and then followed with a light spray of water to fix the color. Joe Fugate developed this method. You can also use washes of paints to give you the effects you want. Thin washes with acrylic paints do rather well.
Joe
LION uses sifted cat litter for ballast. Him does not glue it. Gravity works the same at 1:87 as it does at 1:1.
LIONS do things their own way, da?
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I used powders to weather my ballast. I think it came out pretty well...If you are mixing different colors to get the shade you want, I suggest you make a large batch, or write down your ratios. It might be tough to recreate the shade you went with on the first go around. I speak from experience.