I have used a lot of ballast products through 40-odd years of building model railroads; the selection, quality, and match from Arizona Rock & Mineral is right at the top. Not only is there a huge selection of colors and styles, but (most importantly) it matches from package to package. I have encountered color differences with other manufacturers, but never had an issue with Arizona’s products. They have a huge variety in ballast – you can get exactly what ballast the prototype you are modeling uses, for a more detailed model railroad. I would recommend Arizona Rock & Mineral Co. to anyone building a model railroad.
Category: Reviews
Kent Mason
Great products and service.
Ron Eberhardt
I have purchased and used on my layout many Arizona Rock & Mineral products. Items have always been exactly as described on the Web site and shipping is fast. Price comparison is difficult because I haven’t found another company that does what they do as well as they do it. Thanks for a great product.
Steve Anderson
I use ARM ballast, rock, and dirt almost exclusively, as it is closer to scale than the others. I model an early 50’s shortline, and it did not use ballast that was 6″ in diameter — where they used ballast at all, nor were roads covered with 3″ gravel as a driving surface.
The products are very rock-like – – since they are rock. I coat my sandstone rock surfaces with fine rock powder, then weather it. Looks just like rock — again, since that is what it is.
I love the stuff, as you can tell.
Craig Snyder
Great service and outstanding products. Most realistic ground cover and ballast you can buy.
David Vokins
I use Arizona Rock and Mineral for all my ballast and quite a bit of my scenery. I model Colorado and the sand and gravel materials are excellent for that region.
Tom O’Hara
I have bought multiple bags of multiple colors in multiple sizes. I love the choices, particularly with the help of the sample bags. It’s real rock which doesn’t float when glued down. The subtlety of different colors gives me the choice of getting the color I want. There are even different coal sizes. The service is decent and the supply seems to be generally available. I buy this stuff only from them.
Robert Sprague
The most realistic ballast and stone I have found. Great service.
Rick Bell
I started in this hobby back in 1953 when my Dad worked at MDC. When I had my tonsils out I was in the hospital for two weeks. He brought me a few car kits to assemble. They were pretty crude by today’s standard but I slogged away at them. Wish I still had them.
The hobby may have shifted but we are now in a new and exciting era with 3D printing and more folks rediscovering the fun of building. If you pursue the various social media groups you will see more folks posting their work every day. The methods may have changed since the demise of your “era” but the hobby is growing every day. Just look at sales of kits and parts from places like Lambert Locomotive Works and NGMC to name a few.
No, the hobby is not dying but merely shifting.
It truly is a great time to be a model railroader!
Don Jenkins
Best model railroad ballast and scenery products available! I have tried other brands in the past but ARM ballast is my personal favorite. Quality products and great customer service. The best !!