Hi Joey. Great instructional video. Although I've been at the hobby since childhood, serious scenery work is new territory for me. Perhaps others don't need to practice, but I found building a prototype workbench where I can experiment with materials and techniques has been a lifesaver, because I've made numerous mistakes as I learned, that I wouldn't want to repeat on my real layout. Now, onto designing and constructing roads! So, a couple of comments/feedback: 1) I'm not good enough when spreading the "gravel" that I don't make a bit of a mess, so I found using painters blue tape very handy for masking borders and building "dams" at layout board edges. 2) Perhaps it's assumed, but you're video doesn't specify if excess gravel needs to be removed after the first coat of gravel is applied and allowed to dry before the first coat of hairspray. Also after the second coat of gravel is applied over the wet hairspray and allowed to dry before applying the second coat of hairspray. If so, do you you use vacuum cleaner, gentle paint brushing, or ?? Thanks again for the great video. Learned a lot.
Hi Paul, nothing is written in stone. Just experiment a bit. I do clean up the edges and area before spraying. Once sprayed, anything on it will be stuck. You can always take it off and start again - I do it all the time.
@@tracksidescenery: Thanks for the follow-up and additional info. Trust me, I've got more than a couple of do-overs under my belt. Hence, the prototype workbench :)
My only suggestion - the memory of making trees with hairspray at my friend's last Thursday being fresh in my mind and lungs - Is to buy non-aerosol pump-type hairspray (non-scented). Use your thumb to pump so you don't lose the use of your favorite finger after a few coats, and you'll breathe in far less of the stuff.
Hey Joey, Thanks for the tips, never saw the 50/50 mix of paint and glue before, I also like to sift real materials to model with. I actually live a shouting distance away from a main line where I used to gather black coal/grime dust to sift, Also if you scoop up smaller gravel next to roads or lots, you can sift a multi colored batch that looks like real ballast, or sift mulch for forest scenes.
Excellent tip, I have used the no name brand of parakeet gravel, sold at pet stores, 50 / 50 white glue & crush the gravel. I do have a bag of concrete in the garage, I will give that a try. I also use a lot of side walk chalk, that kids use to draw on side walks. About ten colors in a big box, sold at big box stores. • Thanks for the tip, yes back yard dirt is great. • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
Great viodio, iv used mortar dye in all my plaster as a base coat , if somthing cracks it just looks like dirt and saved me alot of cover materials in the long run. Ps most masons will give you a cup full and that is enough to mix up tons of plaster.
Hi. Model railroading is expensive when you're addicted and cheap alternative is what we're looking for in the end. This is my first time visiting your channel. I learned a lot from your video, informative and enjoyable. Thank you and keep up your good work!
Joey, I'm enjoying looking back at your earlier videos! I'm about to start my FOURTEENTH Layout, and my second in On30! My budget is MUCH smaller now, and these ideas really help a lot.
Awesome (adjective)extremely good or excellent. Thanks for sharing, I have just completed my track layout and ready to start adding features, guess what I'm going to use? Lots of chalky cementy gravel. Awesome (did I mention that?
Your videos are very helpful for a beginner like me. I will soon be ready to put gravel and dirt roads on my first module- I’ll be referring back to this one soon.
Thank you for this video... My space I have to put my HO scale layout is 24"X84" and it's going to have to also have a 16"X33" large fish aquarium in the middle some how :P And my granddaughter who's 5 would like it to be a double decker... She wants it to climb up and into a mountain... the mountain will be the easy part... LOL
Haha! This is the first video I have checked out on you're Channel. What an awesome job on this tutorial and the others you have done. These tutorials by you have me laughing. I've seen many of so-called "budget" builds that end up costing you just as much as a visit to the Hobby Shop. This is by far the best I've seen and straight to the point. This is what I call a real Budget build. Looking forward to seeing more from you so I have subscribed. Thanks!
Great video. So much better than sticking down some purchased plastic or paper sheets. Just one question, being English I want to be sure that US chalk is what in the UK we call chalk! Is the chalk you use the type that is used on classroom blackboards?
PennCentral99 Yep, I have used grout, birdcage sand and others, but most of that has to be ground up to make it fine enough for smaller scale and that hard packed look that works for any scale. Initial sifting of the concrete mix produces a good O Scale sized ballast, further and finer sifting produces what ends up being like dust and this is why I like the concrete mix. Also the key is that it holds moisture and you don't have to rely on your adhesive to hold it in place like you would sand. Sand and grout tend to be something you have to "hold down" while the dust gets mixed with the adhesives (hairspray in this case).
You mentioned adding color to the gravel by grinding up chalk. What type of chalk were you referring to and where did you buy it? How do you gauge the amount of chalk to grind up, recognizing the more you add the deeper the color?
Hi Joey. Great instructional video. Although I've been at the hobby since childhood, serious scenery work is new territory for me. Perhaps others don't need to practice, but I found building a prototype workbench where I can experiment with materials and techniques has been a lifesaver, because I've made numerous mistakes as I learned, that I wouldn't want to repeat on my real layout. Now, onto designing and constructing roads! So, a couple of comments/feedback: 1) I'm not good enough when spreading the "gravel" that I don't make a bit of a mess, so I found using painters blue tape very handy for masking borders and building "dams" at layout board edges. 2) Perhaps it's assumed, but you're video doesn't specify if excess gravel needs to be removed after the first coat of gravel is applied and allowed to dry before the first coat of hairspray. Also after the second coat of gravel is applied over the wet hairspray and allowed to dry before applying the second coat of hairspray. If so, do you you use vacuum cleaner, gentle paint brushing, or ??
Thanks again for the great video. Learned a lot.
Hi Paul, nothing is written in stone. Just experiment a bit. I do clean up the edges and area before spraying. Once sprayed, anything on it will be stuck. You can always take it off and start again - I do it all the time.
@@tracksidescenery: Thanks for the follow-up and additional info. Trust me, I've got more than a couple of do-overs under my belt. Hence, the prototype workbench :)
I just sifted it thru a really fine woven screen then sifted it again with a screen that took the bigger stuff out. Works good and no blender.
Excellent tip. I have added this to my favourites as I am going to be doing a lot of gravel in my yard area.
Good stuff mate...thank you!
My only suggestion - the memory of making trees with hairspray at my friend's last Thursday being fresh in my mind and lungs - Is to buy non-aerosol pump-type hairspray (non-scented). Use your thumb to pump so you don't lose the use of your favorite finger after a few coats, and you'll breathe in far less of the stuff.
Hey Joey, Thanks for the tips, never saw the 50/50 mix of paint and glue before, I also like to sift real materials to model with. I actually live a shouting distance away from a main line where I used to gather black coal/grime dust to sift, Also if you scoop up smaller gravel next to roads or lots, you can sift a multi colored batch that looks like real ballast, or sift mulch for forest scenes.
Excellent tip, I have used the no name brand of parakeet gravel, sold at pet stores, 50 / 50 white glue & crush the gravel. I do have a bag of concrete in the garage, I will give that a try. I also use a lot of side walk chalk, that kids use to draw on side walks. About ten colors in a big box, sold at big box stores.
• Thanks for the tip, yes back yard dirt is great.
• Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
Great viodio, iv used mortar dye in all my plaster as a base coat , if somthing cracks it just looks like dirt and saved me alot of cover materials in the long run. Ps most masons will give you a cup full and that is enough to mix up tons of plaster.
Hi. Model railroading is expensive when you're addicted and cheap alternative is what we're looking for in the end. This is my first time visiting your channel. I learned a lot from your video, informative and enjoyable. Thank you and keep up your good work!
Joey, I'm enjoying looking back at your earlier videos! I'm about to start my FOURTEENTH Layout, and my second in On30!
My budget is MUCH smaller now, and these ideas really help a lot.
THIS one looks SO easy, I think even I can do it!! 😛😜
Your videos are awesome sir. I just got back into the hobby and your videos are a Godsend.
Awesome (adjective)extremely good or excellent. Thanks for sharing, I have just completed my track layout and ready to start adding features, guess what I'm going to use? Lots of chalky cementy gravel. Awesome (did I mention that?
Very informative. Thanks for the tips.
Your videos are very helpful for a beginner like me. I will soon be ready to put gravel and dirt roads on my first module- I’ll be referring back to this one soon.
Thank you for this video... My space I have to put my HO scale layout is 24"X84" and it's going to have to also have a 16"X33" large fish aquarium in the middle some how :P
And my granddaughter who's 5 would like it to be a double decker... She wants it to climb up and into a mountain... the mountain will be the easy part... LOL
Haha! This is the first video I have checked out on you're Channel. What an awesome job on this tutorial and the others you have done. These tutorials by you have me laughing. I've seen many of so-called "budget" builds that end up costing you just as much as a visit to the Hobby Shop. This is by far the best I've seen and straight to the point. This is what I call a real Budget build. Looking forward to seeing more from you so I have subscribed. Thanks!
Very good videos - your passion comes out. I love model railroading. Thanks for the great ideas.
Thanks for sharing.
Great video
Well done! Thanks for sharing!
Great video Joey!! Thanks
GREAT and thank for the tip
Nice techniques!
@ 1:15 is that actual trees against a tree back ground or all the printed background you all see. That's awesome work
Great tutorial but where did you get those pieces of "heavy equipment" (front end loader/dresser, etc...)
gr8 tips....tyvm
Great video. So much better than sticking down some purchased plastic or paper sheets.
Just one question, being English I want to be sure that US chalk is what in the UK we call chalk! Is the chalk you use the type that is used on classroom blackboards?
Melton Pieman Melton, any chalk is good chalk. I use your basic variety of artist pastels, school chalk and sidewalk chalks too..
THANK JOEY FOR DETAIL VIDEO HOW to MAKE GRAVEL FOR LAYOUT
hey Joey, great job! given any thought to using grout instead of concrete? grout comes in a finer state and multi colors.
PennCentral99 Yep, I have used grout, birdcage sand and others, but most of that has to be ground up to make it fine enough for smaller scale and that hard packed look that works for any scale. Initial sifting of the concrete mix produces a good O Scale sized ballast, further and finer sifting produces what ends up being like dust and this is why I like the concrete mix. Also the key is that it holds moisture and you don't have to rely on your adhesive to hold it in place like you would sand. Sand and grout tend to be something you have to "hold down" while the dust gets mixed with the adhesives (hairspray in this case).
thx
You mentioned adding color to the gravel by grinding up chalk. What type of chalk were you referring to and where did you buy it? How do you gauge the amount of chalk to grind up, recognizing the more you add the deeper the color?
COKid02 artist chalks in USA, found at Michaels Crafts or AC Moore.
FIRST!
Joey, would mortar mix work as well? Same as concrete except for the small stones.
Jorge Medina basically, that is what is on the mix. Experiment with it.
I have heard of the use of "kitty litter"!
do not smoke at the same time as all that hair spray. Thanks a big thumbs up
No hairspray for me, thank you, just woodglue & water in a spray bottle. But hey, to each his own 👍
One ruined blender