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What is the process for building a lock system for a canal on a model layout ?
Posted in: Best practices
8th January 2024
Building a lock system for a canal on a model layout can be a fascinating and rewarding project. It adds a realistic...
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What are microbrushes?
Posted in: Painting
29th July 2019
Microbrushes are very small brushes, made of thin round plastic, not dissimilar to the thickness of a cotton bud with...
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What is the British Rail TOPS system?
Posted in: Model Railway
9th November 2020
The TOPS system (Total Operations Processing System) is a computerised system used to keep track of a...
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What is a Commonwealth bogie?
Posted in: Model Railway
5th November 2020
Bogies are a chassis (or framework) that carry a wheelset on a railway locomotive or rollingstock. The Commonwealth...
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Is a resin kit better than a plastic kit?
Posted in: Kit building
27th August 2019
That would really depend on your point of view. If you are making a military model such as a tank for wargaming,...
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How much ballast do I need for my model railway?

Trying to figure out how much ballast you need to cover your layout is an interesting battle and one you will probably lose!

Some manufacturers do give an approximate track coverage on their bags or tubs of ballast, which is both useful and appreciated, but others err on the side of caution by simply stating how much ballast is contained within their packet, whether that be a cubic measurement or a weight.

The reason for this is that there are so many variables to consider when ballasting track that it would be nearly impossible to come up with a formula to commit a particular bag or tub of ballast to a coverage measurement. Gauge and the size of track shoulders are two of the main factors that determine how far ballast will go as well as individual modeller preferences concerning the depth of their ballast. A track that is raised on a cork bed, for example, will require deeper shoulders while mainlines and sidings may require wider shoulders and so on.

Of course, none of this helps a modeller in a shop trying to decide whether to buy one tub or two for their layout, and shops will never be able to predict an individual's ballasting techniques or design requirements, but maybe you can scale down the problem. Instead of trying to visualise or work out how many tubs or bags will cover an entire layout, consider that a regular coffee mug full of ballast will cover around 3-metres of OO gauge track or 6-metres of N gauge track with a moderate shoulder. Granted, that still doesn't take into account modelling techniques or larger shoulders, but at least you have a chance of visualising how many coffee cups of ballast there are in a bag or tub, which is a lot easier than guessing how many bags or tubs will cover a loft!

Posted in: Tracks

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