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Alternative Ballast For Your Model Train Layouts
Posted On 2009-01-01 , 1:40 PM
By Tim Donelly
If you want your model train layouts to be truly realistic, you need to spend extra effort and money on making the track work look realistic. Being the most visible element of your presentation, track work would inevitably require the most investment. Ballasts specifically manufactured for model train layouts are a bit expensive. But you have a very good alternative that works just as fine: masonry sand. Here's how to pick and use masonry sand for your track work:
1. Bring a strong magnet when with you when buying your sand. You don't want to buy the type with iron. Iron would make your rails look like soldered wires. You don't want that.
2. Pick the sand whose color you like. They come in different pigments and are made for building construction so they're sold in bulk for usually a lot less than the usual ballasts.
3. Use the sand as you would the ballast.
4. If you don't find the color you're looking for, buy any color and use it as the base ballast. You can then use the more expensive railroader ballast as final top coat.
Albert Williamson's The Complete Beginner's Guide to Model Trains has more practical advice and tips on materials and sources for an authentic model train layouts that shouldn't cost you much. Do check it out and find out more.
The great thing about getting into the railroading hobby is basically that there already hundreds, maybe even thousands of people who have been into it ahead of you. Other railroading enthusiasts are great sources of useful information that they themselves have uncovered along the way. Who would have thought masonry sand could work as well as the more expensive railroader ballast? Only an experienced model train enthusiast, of course!
Tim Donelly has three daughters, a huge collection of model train sets, and a wife. He loves all three - quite possibly in that order, too! Learn about model trains hobby and more when you visit his website ModelTrainFunOnline.Com today!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Donelly
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