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What is the difference between a train set and a layout?
Posted in: Model Railway
21st February 2020
The knowledge that we acquire when building our model railway layouts leaves us with no doubt about the difference...
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What does "analogue compatible" means for a DCC decoder?
Posted in: Power and control
5th September 2019
"Analogue compatible" means the decoder is able to run on a traditional analogue layout that is not DCC. This is...
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How has the role of the brake van evolved throughout the history of the railways?
Posted in: Rolling stock
31st January 2024
Brake vans, also known as guard's vans or caboose cars, have played a vital role in the history of railways. These...
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Why do some N gauge tracks have irregularly spaced sleepers?
Posted in: Model Railway, Tracks
17th May 2021
During a trip to your local model shop, you may have noticed what looks like N gauge model railway track with...
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How do I fill gaps in a model?
Posted in: Kit building, Assembling and gluing
17th February 2021
There are a couple of different product types you can use to fill gaps on a model, which type you use will depend on...
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What coarseness ballast should I use for my OO scale railway?

Ballast comes in varying degrees in coarseness, fine medium and coarse.

For OO scale the most realistic would have to be medium. OO gauge is 1/76 scale so measure a few ballast stones and multiply the size by 76 to check whether it would be correct in real life.

Although there is nothing to say that you cannot use any of the others on your layout.

You could use coarse ballast in your quarry scene to represent ballast to be broken down and fine ballast on the quarry floor to represent fragments.

Use all three types of ballast to create wagon loads.

Posted in: Model Railway, Scenery

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