My Layout is O-31 Tubular track. I add basswood wood ties, 1/2"x1/4" 2-1/4" Long, painted black. My ballast is gravel from Ant Hills. Here in Western Colorado we have these large Ant Hills, 2-3 feet in diameter. The ants are great sorters and bring up these large grains of sand, small pebbles. I scoop this material up into a bucket, bring it home and run it through a sifter. When I lay my track I insert the wood ties, the pour over the ballast, dress it up with a brush. I use tweezers to pick out the oversized pieces and other junk. Then Spray with an alcohol water mix, then using a medicine dropper, add white glue water mix.
The Ground Cover you see is a fine sand I dug up out of a creek bed, Dry it out and run through a kitchen sifter.
Steve
