Laying the track on a grass mat

[footplate1947]

I have seen layouts which are not ballasted even on this forum over the years and I think they look OK.
The old saying is. It is your railway so if you like it do it.. Have seen some nice layout without ballast. Now what about a on the moon around a crater.

[Walkingthedog]

I’ve seen layouts with ballast that look atrocious

[Montfort]

Thanks.

[RogerB]

I’ve seen layouts with ballast that look atrocious

Seen photos of my old layout eh? R-

[Malcolm 0-6-0]

Ballasting is ballasting. The real things have it, and they have it for a purpose which is to stabilize the track. Also on the real things there are some awful ballasting efforts as well - depends on the circumstances and how long before the civil engineering chaps catch up with the task. To me it is just another thing to learn how to model, like buildings, landscaping etc. Developing one's skills in these is like everything just practice and learning from mistakes etc. So really I can't see any reason not to ballast unless one can come up with examples of unballasted track to model. I see improving one's modelling ability as part of the enjoyment.

[Montfort]

Thanks for your advices.