When I put the scenery together, I want dirt in some places. Should I trust real dirt and just sift through it? Does WS make a version that will look real? How would I apply it? Add your 2 cents.
The garden dirt I used was sifted and pulverised in a big pot. Many people tell you to cook it in the oven to kill any life-forms in it. I didn't bother. Three years later and not a hint of trouble.
I mixed mine with lots of slightly diluted PVA glue, plus some mixed [with water] plaster.
Mike
Modelling the UK in 00, and New England - MEC, B&M, D&H and Guilford - in H0
I model HO. I use the fine ground foam for dirt most of the time. Color depends on what I want. I have used real dirt before when it was fine enough and didn't look like ballast.
If this is your first layout, feel free to experiment. That is the way you learn the techniques and materials that you will be comfortable with, and what looks best to you and the people who see your layout.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Dirt is already laying around on the ground. What type of soil is in your area? Is it sand, loam or clay? Is your railroad going to be at ground level or elevated? The best method for using dirt on elevated layouts is to have it delivered by dump trucks. It's far to large a volume to shovel by hand, even a small railroad has many cubic feet of dirt fill behind the retaining walls. Grab a couple of buddies after it's dumped and smooth out the dirt in areas where you want it flat, raise it up in others as you desire. Allow a week or more for it to settle (preferably one or two hard rains) before starting trackwork or other scenery such as water features. Don't forget to allow some drainage, hydrostatic pressure will burst even the best of walls under the right conditions.
A ground level layout is simpler, but will require at least some reworking of the area to ensure the track is smooth and has a solid base. Dirt is normaly used as is in this kind of layout, but certain conditioning is still preferable to do before any elements of the trackwork is down. Choosing scenic elements outside your zone will involve a lot more preparation and upkeep, so be prepared to spend a lot of time on your layout managing it.
Depending on they type of senic elements you want, you may have to condition the soil to ensure healthy growth. I use domestic elements that are proven to be durable in my area. Exotic elements require far more care and specific dirt requirements that may not exist naturaly in your area, but the payoff is having a unique layout full of color and variety.
The Dixie D Short Line "Lux Lucet In Tenebris Nihil Igitur Mors Est Ad Nos 2001"
Just use your soil from your backyard. All you do is sift through it, and cook it in your oven. This will kill anything that is living inside of it, so your model dosen't get infested. Good luck.
Peace