I strongly suggest that you

I strongly suggest that you get Joe Fugate's DVDs on detailing.  Click HERE to go to the page where you can download an individual video segment "Track ballasting and weathering" or better yet buy the entire set of DVDs.  I've got them and they are worth every penny!

I use a "wash" - dark

I use a "wash" - dark grey/black diluted with water. Applied as necessary to get the desired result

Cheers

Joe Fugate's DVD's

I love his DVD's as well and bought the whole set.  I've since donated them to our Utah club library.  Maybe I need to check them out again!

We are going up to north Utah for an ops session, about seven of us in our minivan, and those DVD's will get played there and back.

Great model rr's 2 24

A dark wet wash is great for

A dark wet wash is great for darkening or increasing contrast, but if you want a dusty or drier look or to lighten ballast color, dry pigment weathering works great too.  I've used dry tempera paint powders, gray Rottenstone, and finely sifted natural soil for this.  It's easy to control and as long as you stay with lighter or gray pigments, you have some ability to reverse the effects with a very dilute dark wash.  

Weathering ballast

Thanks-layout is mostly desert-only planning to weather switch yard portion. (1/4 of layout) Do you apply with

pipet or brush? Will acrylic paint work?

Rich

Bellingham Wa