I am starting scenery work on My N scale model railroad layout. So I am trying come up with a approximate quantity of N scale fine ballast I would would need. Is there simple calculation for this or rule of thumb? I have approximately 185 feet of mainline track to ballast . I would like to WS fine grade track ballast. Can anyone help me. Thank You
Depends on the type of track, type of roadbed, how far you want to extend, slope, etc. I have found it takes about half a teaspoon to do about an inch for a normal code 55 mainline. That is 6 tsp / ft, or 2 tbsp/ft. Translates to ~8 ft/cup. YMMV, per the first paragraph.
Just an FWIW: If you are not so handy spreading ballast...you can use a ballast spreader... Google n scale ballast spreader. Personally, I always enjoyed ballasting freehand. Using various artist brushes to get the ballast just like I wanted it. Even with a n scale ballast spreader you are going to have ballast that needs to be swept up or moved around. I would save the money for more ballast...but thats just me
I use small plastic spoons like the use at ice cream shops, or the medicine measuring spoons. And a fan-shaped brush for clearing the ties. Very light pressure with the brush, you don’t want to sweep hard.
My recommendation would be not to use WS ballast. I say this for two reasons. No. 1 WS ballast is organic. Some say it is ground up walnut shells. Regardless, it is light and tends to float making it difficult to keep in one place. No.2 It is expensive compared to other products MSRP is $12.99 for 57 cu inches. I would recommend using Scenic Express #50 ballast in your choice of colors. I say this for two reasons. No.1 Scenic Express ballast is made from real rock. It won't float. No. 2 you get a quart for $11.99 MSRP. A quart (dry quart) equals 67.2 cu inches. So using Scenic press rather than WS you get real rock and you get more ballast for less money.
I'm with Inkaneer. WS ballast is why so many dread the task. I use and like Arizona Rock & Mineral, which is also real rock. And when I bought, I got enough that now when I need to make repairs or changes, I have ballast that matches what's already there.
I'd order perhaps an even ten bags of the color and size you wish and put it down. Measure the length covered, work the math and order the rest. As Rick suggests in his first post, there are too many variables in the work to know the quantity at the outset.
I agree with the concept of a test section. Was going to suggest you get a bag of what you would desire, and do a known length such as twelve inches. See how much of that quantity you've used and compute from that point...
I also favor the Arizona Rock & Mineral product. On my current layout I built a small diorama to experiment with ballast before actually ballasting any track on the layout. I made a post on my blog when I did this. http://palisadecanyonrr.blogspot.com/2016/06/trying-out-new-ballasting-technique.html
When I built my last layout, I used WS and it was a bit of a pain to get it to stay looking right. If I had it to do over, I would for sure go with AR&M or SE real rock ballast.
I will third/fourth or fifth (which one and I up to now??) the Arizona Rock & Mineral ballast. It's phenomenal. Lay it down with a spoon and a tapping motion, adjust to suit, then soak it in straight isopropyl alcohol. Dribble glue/water mixture (with a few dish detergent drops to cut surface tension) GENTLY on and allow to dry. It stays put and looks great. ] Their "snow" is crushed/powdered marble. It works similarly great.
What I don't like about Arizona Rock ballast is their gradient. "N scale ballast" can mean anything. Usually it means that it is everything that will pass through the sieve they use to screen HO. So you get fines and pieces that are too small for HO but too big for N scale. With Scenic Express I can order #50 ballast and know that I am getting a certain size particle. I also like the plastic quart and half gallon plastic containers. Easy to store. I looked on Arizona Rock's website but could not locate what size their bags of ballast are. Anyone know?