Ballast Size

Considering that most prototype ballast is in the 2" to 4" size range, then WS "fine" ballast is probably closest to scale for HO. Too often modelers seem to employ oversized ballast, resulting in a rather odd appearance to their trackage.

NYW&B

   Most ballast size for

Most ballast size for railroad use has been traditionally in the 2-4" range.  BNSF has been specifying 1.5 - 2.5" ballast from the Sioux Quartzite  quarries in the Sioux Falls area this past year.  The reason being that it is better on  the workers feet!

There are many more 'choices' that the W/S's 'ground walnut shell' ballast - Smith & Sons, Arizona Rock & Mineral, and Highball all make very nice scale size ballast that does not 'float' away when you apply the bonding agent.

Jim

Use Another Product?

If you haven't purchased the ballast yet, I'd also urge you to avoid Woodland Scenics, as Jim did above.  Good quality real rock ballast from MRH Sponsor Scenic Express is what I'm currently using, in #40 grade for HO.  Their price for the Scenic Express brand in 32 ounce containers is all of $.01 different from the same size of Woodland Scenics, and is much nicer to use.  It behaves itself when wetting and gluing far better than WS brand, and isn't as likely to float away or be attracted to the sides of the rails or tops of the ties from static.

As far as I'm concerned, the only reason to use WS ballast is if you can't get anything else.

I have used the WS as well as

I have used the WS as well as Scenics Express #40.  I will use nothing but Scenics Express from now on.  There is absolutely no comparison. Behaves differently when brushed off the tie tops, when prepped with wet water and stays in place when adding adhesives.

Mike

Any thing new to add?

Hi! I saw this and was wondering if there's anything new someone would like to add. Is Scenic Express better than Arizona Rock? Is the cost comparable? I find it hard to figure. SE is ? only one source? And the latest on their web site is $12.98 a quart. And AR in a 9,10,11 oz bag and $6.30 retail, $5.40 at an online hobby shop. So I also ask how many HO feet of track do they cover? And is there any other good rock ballast source. I too, tried W.S. and find it not to my liking.

WS Worked for me

I use Woodland Scenics Fine ballast and it worked fine for me.

Walkability

Above, Jim said

I model 1938, and have in my library Maintenance Cyclopedias from that period - and working conditions are one of the factors referenced when pros and cons of each ballast type were weighed.  For example, cinder and natural (rounded) gravel had ease of working with hand tools as one of the benefits. That's not a typical concern for today's mechanized maintenance, but is an interesting analog to your comment.  I.e., the definition of "best" can vary!

On a side note, one of the benefits listed for cinder was its ability to suppress vegetation. One reason that steam era rights of ways were so open!   

Ballast size

I absolutely agree. WS Fine is the best looking size for HO. I used it and many modelers who know more than me think it looks just right. For SP, I used the mixed grey and gray together...

combination of Medium and Fine

I used medium grey ballast for this diorama and it looked too big and i was not happy with it, 

I then sprinkled fine lighter grey ballast and it improved it 100% to something I was happy with. it even made the medium ballast look smaller.

the gaps and holes that made the medium ballast look 'wrong' were filled with the fine ballast

this also has a few other benefits as the medium ballast filled the majority of the ballast work and it made the fine ballast go a lot further, where as if I used only fine ballast it would have taken more ballast overall as it settles and fits in around the ties more densely 

Terence

Dan

Woodland Scenic has a YouTube channel. They demonstrate ballasting track in one of their videos. They used a medium grade ballast along with a quarter cup of the fine ballast mixed in.