I finally, after what seems like forever, finished all my track laying last night.
Now we still have a nice ground cover of snow around here so I cannot really get out to get samples of the real stuff, and I don't really want to put off ballasting for 3 or 4 more weeks, I have a ballast color question. What color(s) are prototypical to the Boston and Maine? I'm imagining a whole lot of granite? I plan to use Woodland Scenics as I'd rather not do alot of custom blending. I will have mainline and at aleast 1 yard. Are yards and mainlines a different mix / color?
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Sparkyjay: Granite is the the stuff, and it will need to be tinted to a dirty color after a few years of use of course, the B&M period you are doing I assume is pre 1955?
You must be in the Keene area ?
grayfox1119 wrote: Sparkyjay: Granite is the the stuff, and it will need to be tinted to a dirty color after a few years of use of course, the B&M period you are doing I assume is pre 1955?You must be in the Keene area ?
I'm modeling in the 1920's. I'm actually in New Ipswich. About midway between Keene and Nashua.
Alex
sparkyjay31 wrote: grayfox1119 wrote: Sparkyjay: Granite is the the stuff, and it will need to be tinted to a dirty color after a few years of use of course, the B&M period you are doing I assume is pre 1955?You must be in the Keene area ?I'm modeling in the 1920's. I'm actually in New Ipswich. About midway between Keene and Nashua.
The gray granite is what you're looking for. My club models the 50s New England, I have found that WS fine gray will do, however, the light weight of WS ballast can be a pain to position and moves about easily. Usually where you don't want it. After experinenting, I found that Scenic Xpress real stone light gray mixed w/ the WS was a good match and is easy to manage.
The mains to the left are the mix, ballast is darker as you get deeper into the yard tracks
In this you can see the salt and pepper look to the different ballast, don't mind that bare spot- it's been repaired wasn't bonded and the vacuum ate it.
Arizona Rock also has a great product. You will find that working w/ real stone to be much easier and more managable. The stone is much heavier and stays put. You need to know that many real stone ballast will be slightly darker once wet and glued down. Experiment first on a sample piece to see if you like the final color.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org