Arizona Rock and Mineral Update

[flight2000]

I know there has been a lot of angst/discussion over the shipping times for AZ Rock & Mineral since early 2021, but it appears they may have finally turned a corner.  I ordered 20 pounds of ballast (20 bags) on Thursday thinking it would arrive sometime in the Nov/Dec time frame since my order back in March of this year was delivered in July. 

Well, I got a shipping confirmation notice yesterday and my order is supposed to arrive Monday.    I don't know if that was just because the two stock numbers I ordered were available or if that is a general indication for everything they make.  Their website says ship times are down to ~41 days, so maybe I just got lucky.  Either way, I have enough to finish the upper deck and won't need any more for awhile. 

I also noticed Midwest Model Railroad in Missouri had more AZRM stock on hand when I was poking around for scenery material last night.  I hope this continues because I like working with their stuff. 

Cheers,
Brian

[crrcoal]

End of August I placed an order with ARM. Website said expect a 41 day wait time. I had my order in about a week. 

[Englewood]

I'll try their website. I ordered some about a year and a half ago from my local shop, and they never received it. I haven't ballasted yet because I don't want to get started until I have enough for the whole layout in order to avoid different colored ballast. I'm guessing shipping isn't cheap...

[flight2000]

I'm guessing shipping isn't cheap...

It's actually not that bad given the weight of the box. Mine was $15.25 for the twenty 1lbs bags from AZ to OH.  They use the large flat rate priority boxes, so shipping is kept pretty low when compared to the others.

Cheers,
Brian

[thomasjmdavis]

I haven't used their ballast in the past, but hoping (if the product I want is restocked, and I ever get track laid) to use ARM on the planned layout.  But, for planning/budgeting purposes- what is a rough estimate of how many feet of track you can ballast with 1 pound of ARM real rock ballast?

[flight2000]

I haven't used their ballast in the past, but hoping (if the product I want is restocked, and I ever get track laid) to use ARM on the planned layout.  But, for planning/budgeting purposes- what is a rough estimate of how many feet of track you can ballast with 1 pound of ARM real rock ballast?

I can get ~3.5' of double mainline done in HO per bag.  N should go a lot further, I just don't know how much further....maybe 6-7' of double main since distance isn't as wide between the rails. 

Cheers,
Brian

[thomasjmdavis]

I can get ~3.5' of double mainline done in HO per bag.  N should go a lot further, I just don't know how much further....maybe 6-7' of double main since distance isn't as wide between the rails. 

Cheers,
Brian

Thanks.  I apologize for not specifying scale (the sort of thing that drives me nuts when other people forget to do it), but you were right- N scale. 

[ednadolski]

I'll add to the chorus... I just received my order containing over 16 lbs. of scenery material, in just over two weeks since I placed the order

Well done, AZRM! 

Ed

[crrcoal]

"N should go a lot further, I just don't know how much further....maybe 6-7' of double main since distance isn't as wide between the rails." 

Cheers,
Brian

You would think that but the N scale ballast needs to be sifted. And once sifted you find you need to buy more.

[ednadolski]

You would think that but the N scale ballast needs to be sifted. And once sifted you find you need to buy more.

Not only to remove the over-sized granules, but also the under-sized and dust/powder portions.  That's pretty much true of any ground stone ballast, regardless of scale, and not just AZRM.

Ed