Ballast Test - Would like your opinion.

I think it looks great.  Throw in the fact it's  $2.50 for 50 lbs and it becomes a no-brainer.

-Greg

I like it.  I would drop a magnet in the bag of ballast to make sure it is not ferrous.  If it sticks to the magnet, it will also stick to your expensive motors and magna-traction.

Chris Sheldon

Looks Really Good To Me!

Chief Bob (Retired)

Art,

I really like it. The second picture really shows the detail and it looks great.

Nice choice.

Tom

Art, that really looks good. Can't beat the price.

Bob

Looks great. Many people tend to use stuff that is too big. 

Art, do you have the product or SKU number of the sand you purchased? I really like how this looks! Wonder how it would look with O Tubular track?

Rusty

Art that ballast looks very life like.  It's probably one of the best I've seen.   I particularly like how there's a mixture of granule size.  It's a winner for sure.  BTW what road bed are you using?  The way it tapers looks fantastic.

Are you sure this is sand? It is much coarser than the sand I am used to seeing. Whatever it is it is perfect. Nick

It looks OK, if you like it use it.   But... I have never seen ballast with so much variability in size.   You show some pieces almost large enough to span the distance between ties.   You might try straining your ballast to get a more consistent size - the smallest range of stones look OK to me.

Here is what I like for the edges of my Fastrack:  its actually two sizes mixed together to get the range or stones that looks to me, to be accurate for the range that I see.

I counted the number of stones spanning the distance between ties on the mainlines around here (North Georgia), and tried to get a mix with the same count.   That will of course vary from location to location.   Anyway bottom line is if you like it, go with it, the appearance is good.

I think to looks good.

Diverging Clear posted:

Art, do you have the product or SKU number of the sand you purchased? I really like how this looks! Wonder how it would look with O Tubular track?

Rusty

Rusty it is marketed at Menards as Traction Sand. Their SKU #1891087.  

Art

I think that looks great. I have some sections I'd like to try that on. What's the Menard's SKU number?

wild mary posted:

Art that ballast looks very life like.  It's probably one of the best I've seen.   I particularly like how there's a mixture of granule size.  It's a winner for sure.  BTW what road bed are you using?  The way it tapers looks fantastic.

Thanks, Nick.  I use Woodland Scenics foam roadbed, but there is nothing on this sample.  I just laid in on the wood piece to see what it would look like.  I just shaped it with a large paint brush.

Art

I like the variations in color and size, and the price is exactly in my cheapo wheelhouse -- good choice!

I agree with everyone else Art. I think it looks great!

Im liking it!!

Same here Art, looks good!

That stuff NAILS it, Mr. Art! 

Paul.