Ballast for N Scale

[Anonymous]

I've heard that Woodland Scenics ballast is too large; are there any other companies that make good prototypical ballast for an N Scale layout?

[Anonymous]

I use Busch (German) almost as much for the color as for grain size. But as I recall it is finer than Woodland Scenics. You should be able to get a catalog from one of the European train specialists in the US.

[Seamonster]

Woodland Scenics' fine ballast looks right to me. They make it in different sizes for different scales.

[MAbruce]

I've used Woodland’s fine ballast on my N-scale layout. Results were OK, but I've seen much better on other N-scale layouts. If I were to do it over again, I'd try to find a finer grade ballast. I've heard Arizona Rock makes a nice product.

Anyway, here are some shots of how my WS ballast turned out. Some colors look better than others, but there is also my ballasting skills (or lack thereof) that should be taken into consideration.

This shot shows how I used different colors:


Another view of differing ballast colors. I think the darker turned out better:


This shot is sort of blurry in the foreground, but it shows how I mixed light and dark WS ballast:


In my overall experiences, I'd say the darker WS fine ballast shades look better in N-scale.

[ATSFCLIFF]

I use WS 'fine' ballast and it looks okay with me.
Cliff

http://cliffordconceicao3310.fotopic.net/c328807.html

[earlfrye]

I use crushed granite from arizona rock. The size is better and it is easier to work with than WS.

[Anonymous]

I'm having trouble finding Arizona Rock. The Walthers web site didn't seem to have it. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

try faller Z+N track ballast. it looks great and its not hard to find. its also finer then most as its intended use is for Z as well as N

[Anonymous]

Oddly enough, I use WS medium ballast. I'm used to looking at the local CSX mainline, and the rocks in that ballast look enormous.

[dickencr]

Here's the URL for Arizona Rock & Mineral

http://rrscenery.com/