Comments on: Best Type of Lightweight Ballast Material?

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 08:38:52 +0000

I saw a brilliant Youtube from New Zealand touting Pumice as an ideal, cheap light Ballast. Pumice is a volcanic stone that floats in water and is marketed for use in propagating plants and for bonsai soil. It comes in 10lb (5 litre) bags for about $9NZ. The grain size ranges from ideal for H0 up to “small boulders” and for our use can be sifted with a kitchen sieve. The product name is Proprop in NZ. It is available in Australia but a bit dearer.

I use sharp sand harvested off “Big Red” , a famous sand hill in the Simpson Desert here in Australia but the pumice sound very attractive.

By: Kevin Ching

Kevin Ching — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 02:41:56 +0000

Woodland scenic s is best if you use fine grade but use it sparingly and one large bottle should do

By: geoff

geoff — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:38:38 +0000

I know some people have used tea-leaves. Coffee grounds will go mouldy. You could also try grinding or crumbling some cork.

By: Nicholas Westwood

Nicholas Westwood — Sun, 01 Mar 2020 21:15:40 +0000

In reply to Joe Graffi. Woodland Scenics ballast is sourced from ground walnut shells; much lighter than real rock, a little more expensive however, but doesn't include any rock dust.

By: Joe Graffi

Joe Graffi — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 18:40:06 +0000

Look at Scenic Express. They have great ballast in different sizes AND they will send free samples. I believe they use real “rock”.

Woodland Scenics is ground-up organic material and their “N” Scale is easy to work with. No samples as far as I know.