6.5mm Silflor Grass, Track, and concrete

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Actually, it was this one:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ed.kapuscinski/NorthernCentralReserchPhotos#5057225336767430610

I think you should use both.  Look in the foreground of Ed's picture that I included hereinabove.  There is a small section that could be represented by static grass while the rest could be fine ground foam.

DFF

Yes, I agree! That's why I do use both. But as far as grassy fields go, it's not the end-all it is in HO.

Anyway, back to the ballast topic. Here are some highball cinders I just kinda sprinkled around. Greenery still to come:



It's still a little to textury though for what I'm going for.

[DKS]

Frankly, the model shown looks like there's giant blobs of popcorn all over the right of way.

That's more or less what I'd said, although not quite so "colorfully."

...Here are some highball cinders I just kinda sprinkled around... It's still a little to textury though for what I'm going for.

Ed, that's looking really good. Perhaps if you added some very finely-ground material (almost powder) and brushed it into the existing ballast--especially making sure to fill in the voids along the inside of the track, below the rail (you can see some ahead of the loco)--you might end up with what Tom needs, albeit much darker. I'd also take the time to strip away anything stuck to the sides of the rail, as well as carefully remove any material piled on the tops of the "spikes."

That pickup truck is sure a sad-looking specimen, though...

[tom mann]

I've been experimenting with mortar.  I just can't find a material that looks like ballast in close up photos. 

[wm3798]

Have you tried tile grout?  It comes if a variety of colors, and can be blended to either tone down or tone up the finished look...

Lee

[tom mann]

Have you tried tile grout?  It comes if a variety of colors, and can be blended to either tone down or tone up the finished look...

Lee

Kind of- the mortar I have is close to the grey color I need.

[wm3798]

Wouldn't tile grout be a finer grain though?
L

[tom mann]

Wouldn't tile grout be a finer grain though?
L

Maybe, but this mortar looks like powder.

[Sokramiketes]

Wouldn't tile grout be a finer grain though?
L

Maybe, but this mortar looks like powder.

Tile grout comes sanded or unsanded.  Try the sanded if you go this route.

[tom mann]

Tile grout comes sanded or unsanded.  Try the sanded if you go this route.

That's exactly what I don't want!  Up close, it looks like little glass beads!

[DKS]

Yes, sand is not a good ballast or filler material. Too much quartz, which creates bright glass-like specks everywhere. Even the colored stuff is too faceted for close-up photography.

[John]

Yes, sand is not a good ballast or filler material. Too much quartz, which creates bright glass-like specks everywhere. Even the colored stuff is too faceted for close-up photography.

There was a guy on Atlas, maybe it was BCR570, that used to do all their ballast with grout .. it looked pretty good to me .. but then again, if you see my layout, I don't have the same high standards that you guys do for close ups ..

[wm3798]

I did this section with a blend of WS fine light gray and some colored sand I got at a craft store.  I've found that the best way to overcome the translucency problem is to badly overexpose the shot, and leave enough crap stuck to the rail web, including ballast and cat hair, to distract the eye... :-\

Lee

[tom mann]

badly overexpose the shot, and leave enough crap stuck to the rail web, including ballast and cat hair

Thanks Lee, this is the type of quality photography I'm planning on doing with my layout... ;D

[Sokramiketes]

Tile grout comes sanded or unsanded.  Try the sanded if you go this route.

That's exactly what I don't want!  Up close, it looks like little glass beads!

Yes, sand is not a good ballast or filler material. Too much quartz, which creates bright glass-like specks everywhere. Even the colored stuff is too faceted for close-up photography.

Yikes, this got off on a tangent quick.  Sanded tile grout is hardly "sand".  How many quartz specs do you see in the seams of tile? 

[DKS]

Tile grout comes sanded or unsanded.  Try the sanded if you go this route.

That's exactly what I don't want!  Up close, it looks like little glass beads!

Yes, sand is not a good ballast or filler material. Too much quartz, which creates bright glass-like specks everywhere. Even the colored stuff is too faceted for close-up photography.

Yikes, this got off on a tangent quick.  Sanded tile grout is hardly "sand".  How many quartz specs do you see in the seams of tile? 

Well, Mr. Mike, I leave you to do the counting.



I didn't have to go very far--this is a random bit of sanded grout in our foyer, a few feet from my workshop.