Hi all!

I'll be brief...

BR Western Region 1965 - SE Wales - what ballast recommended for N Gauge? (Not foam).

Thanks!

There is a couple of modellers experimenting with Chinchilla sand we are awaiting feedback. failing that Woodland Scenics extra fine ballast. If it is colour you are after It is usually a matter of preference if you cannot find any photos or the era and area you are modelling.
I am modelling modern image and they have recently re-laid and re-ballasted a section of track not far from my home, this was done with a light grey ballast and concrete sleepered track I did a section of the layout the same and I think it looks c**p so unless I can dye it down or paint it I may have to lift it and re-ballast.
Learning from this get some scrap piece's of track mount on a piece of board and test different ballasts and mixtures until you get one that looks right, remember the colour will change after gluing and drying.

Tony

Having searched loads of western hydraulic books for my new layout, it's  light beige ballast colour you need.
I spoke to Ben ( he of Barton Road fame) who's ballast ing and colour are spot on to me, he says he used geoscenics ballast ( I forget the product number, sorry)
I hope this helps?
Cheers
Dave

Many thanks to Tony and Dave!

I am indeed practising with some spare track and with different ballast. And the photos I have found look like light beige too!

And... I grew up in the region and it matches my memories - not very scientific but it "looks" right to me.

I've used the 50% PVA glue with a drop of washing up liquid applied to pre-water-sprayed-track method and the results so far are excellent!

Thanks again!

I had quite a lot of fun with scrap rails and ballast to get the looks I wanted.  Dont be afraid to try colour washing the ballast.  I used the woodland scenics extra fine in grey and then used some light rust acrylic paint watered down about 1 paint to 4 water to colour the ballast.  Once confident you have the right mix then varieties of colours can be used to vary the scene.
By the way - not sure if it is UK wide but my local Lidl store is selling packs with 12 tubes of acrylic paint for £2.49 at the moment.  They also have some pastel chalks at the same price - which are great for weathering buildings etc.

Hi 494baker:

Whoa - many thanks - great tips!

Yes - I have a Lidl shop nearby - thanks for the hot leads.     One of the fun things about this hobby is that from time to time one can find something that sells for a fraction of the cost that it would if sold by a specialist shop.   


Hmmm... that could be an interesting line for a forum post (if not already done    )  ... "What product have YOU found lately that "sells for a fraction of the cost that it would if sold by a specialist shop"?   

Found another useful source today.

Went into my local picture framing shop and asked the guy who owned it if I could buy off-cuts of mounting card.  He gave me quite a lot of off-cuts (some as big as A4) - and it is really good quality card for models of buildings etc.

Splendid! That's what I meant. Anyone else got a story? 

From the 1960's to the mid-90's the Western Region used limestone ballast which is a beige colour. When they took over the Southerns withered arm more and more use was made of Meldon Quarry resulting in the closure of the quarry between Newport Abbot & Plymouth.

Dodger

Many thanks Dodger!