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Author Topic: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?  (Read 5134 times)

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Kisatchie

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Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« on: June 26, 2016, 01:23:20 PM »
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Is there any ballast that matches Kato Unitrack, other than Kato ballast, which is pricey? Thanks.


Hmm... I don't know
nuthin about ballast...

« Last Edit: June 26, 2016, 01:24:28 PM by GaryHinshaw »
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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

Robert_56

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2016, 02:15:51 PM »
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Haven't tried this yet, still on my to-do list but looks to be a good solution with a price comparison in the comments.

http://thomas.tuerke.net/on/mrr/?thread=1289869264
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Kisatchie

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2016, 02:30:34 PM »
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I don't like Woodland Scenics ballast. It always floated around when I added the water/glue mixture to it many years ago. I heard it's ground up walnut shells, which explains why it was so light. Maybe they improved it since then.


Hmm... I'm starting my
own line of ground up
depleted uranium ballast......

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

MichaelWinicki

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2016, 03:25:11 PM »
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I've used both High Ball & Arizona Rock and have been pleased.

I have not used the Scenic Express ballast (it was introduced after I ballasted my pike) but looking at the stuff and knowing the quality of their other products I would not hesitate in the least to use their product... http://www.sceneryexpress.com/N-HO-O-Natural-Stone/products/1107/3/0

It is actual rock.
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Mike C

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #4 on: June 26, 2016, 06:28:44 PM »
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I used WS stuff , mostly light grey with some black mixed in .  I see no reason that you couldn't do the same with Arizona Rock & Mineral  ballast or Scenic Express ballast .
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Kisatchie

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #5 on: June 26, 2016, 06:49:07 PM »
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I'm hoping someone knows which Arizona Rock/Scenic Express. ballast to use. I tried looking on the Arizona Rock website, but it's chaotic. The Scenic Express site is tolerable, but their ballast photos are black and white. They should use color so you can see the subtleties in the ballast. Bitch and gripe, bitch and gripe...


Hmm... Kiz is an old
grouch...

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

Missaberoad

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2016, 07:08:17 PM »
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Due to the solid plastic nature of Kato's Unitrack you are going to have a real hard time matching it with natural materials.

Here is a N scale.net thread where reply number 3 shows a recipe that's about as close as you could get with AR&M ballast.

If you are willing to give WS another go you can get a really close match to the Kato colors as shown here and here

Yes it is walnut shells and yes it does like to float in water. Personally I like to use Methyl Hydrate as a wetting agent. It has alot less surface tension then "Wet water" and helps combat the tendency for scenery to float.
It is affordable and available at most hardware stores as a stove fuel and while it is flammable when wet it has low fumes and is nearly odorless.
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Dave V

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2016, 07:15:51 PM »
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I use pure 70% isopropyl alcohol as my wetting agent and I never have floating with WS ballast.  I also thin my white glue with alcohol.  I use WS ballast on the Juniata Division.

I use WS gray blend with a tiny bit of their black cinder as a very close match to Unitrack.  Fine grade of course.

I highly recommend the WS mix with (rubbing) alcohol as your wetting agent.
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mu26aeh

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2016, 07:36:03 PM »
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Kisatchie

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #9 on: June 26, 2016, 08:07:27 PM »
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Quote from: mu26aeh on June 26, 2016, 07:36:03 PM
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/KATO-24039-Unitrack-Ballast-p/kat-24039.htm

Yeah, I know about it. It's a dollar an ounce, whereas I can get 32 ounces of Scenic Express ballast for $12.


Hmm... wow, more expensive
than termites...

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Two scientists create a teleportation ray, and they try it out on a cricket. They put the cricket on one of the two teleportation pads in the room, and they turn the ray on.
The cricket jumps across the room onto the other pad.
"It works! It works!"

RBrodzinsky

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2016, 08:20:30 PM »
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I have used the AR&M Silverton, with a bit of black cinder mixed in. Fairly close match
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Rick Brodzinsky
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Silicon Valley FreeMo-N

MichaelWinicki

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #11 on: June 26, 2016, 09:28:58 PM »
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Quote from: Kisatchie on June 26, 2016, 06:49:07 PM
I'm hoping someone knows which Arizona Rock/Scenic Express. ballast to use. I tried looking on the Arizona Rock website, but it's chaotic. The Scenic Express site is tolerable, but their ballast photos are black and white. They should use color so you can see the subtleties in the ballast. Bitch and gripe, bitch and gripe...


Hmm... Kiz is an old
grouch...


Call the folks at Scenic Express and get their recommendation... I've found them to be very helpful.
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James Costello

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #12 on: June 26, 2016, 09:42:52 PM »
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Whatever @davidgray1974 uses - his work looks great!
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James Costello
Espee into the 90's

nkalanaga

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2016, 12:23:23 AM »
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"Hmm... wow, more expensive than termites..."

I agree.  If all else fails, try painting it.  You should be able to find, or mix, a good match from craft store acrylics.  Just find some ballast close to the right color, then tint it with the paint after the glue sets.
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N Kalanaga
Be well

robert3985

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Re: Can Anyone Recommend a Ballast That Matches Kato Unitrack?
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2016, 06:47:46 PM »
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Sure is easier just to use regular ol' flex glued to cork....

Just sayin'... :trollface:  :ashat:

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore
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