I am modeling the Cheyenne UP yard and it is mostly made of of dirt. What is good to simulate dirt?
How about DIRT. I get mine from the garden and used potting soil. Let it get good and dry, run thru a coulple screens.
I'm in HO so you might need finer screens
Do you bake it to kill things living in it?
Tile grout or/and thinset is good for simulating dirt. I use leftovers and paint it to match my geographic location.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
If you use real dirt, run a magnet through it and then bake it to kill off any very small critters which may grow up to be bigger critters. An alternative is an Arizona Rock & Mineral product named, oddly enough, "dirt".
Bear "It's all about having fun."
bearmanIf you use real dirt, run a magnet through it and then bake it to kill off any very small critters which may grow up to be bigger critters.
IMHO this is a myth, MR drama; The dirt I use is the same dirt that you carry in on your shoes and colthes,or pets,blows in thru open doors and windows. I don't live in a bubble. If there are bugs in it,they are now sealed forever in a white glue prison. Besides in my old house, a few more would never be noticed.
I have read and been warned about the metal in real material; but I yet to hear about it ever happening. I have used ballest from my drivewayfor years, some not even glued without issue. YMMV
Years ago my step mother gave me her old Braun coffee bean grinder. I still use it to turn garden clay soil into dirt dust that I use for scenery. Works great in HO, would work equally great for N scale.
I will second what Brent suggested.
Often, the outside dirt from my area, even after sifting, is still not fine enough for N Scale.
If you don't have any grout mix, you can get a bag for a few dollars which will be enough for even a very large layout.
York1 John
Personally I like zip texturing, you can sieve the material to any fineness you want before applying and looks real. I do this everywhere and then do anything else on top so no showthrough.
York1 I will second what Brent suggested. Often, the outside dirt from my area, even after sifting, is still not fine enough for N Scale. If you don't have any grout mix, you can get a bag for a few dollars which will be enough for even a very large layout.
UNCLEBUT,
I can assure you that some dirt has metal in it. Will admit that it was roadside sand, probably screened at one time, but my magnet was covered with fine metal bits that would have easily been picked up by a loco.
Have fun,
Richard
In the past I have poured dirt over this magnet to see the metal content and I am glad I did. I also run it along the rails to find things like coupler and truck springs, bits of rail and a host of other bits that have escaped.
cowman UNCLEBUT, I can assure you that some dirt has metal in it. Will admit that it was roadside sand, probably screened at one time, but my magnet was covered with fine metal bits that would have easily been picked up by a loco. Have fun, Richard
I agree that SOME dirt MAY contain SOME metal.
But; running a magnet thru it, is not the same as passing one above it. The moters in our locos are pretty mutch enclosed, protected. It would be pure magic for a pieace of metal to be pulled up and around all the cornors to get to the motor. then consider the fact that most ground cover is glued down.
Possible ? yes, but IMO unlikely I have never heard of it happening. I would think that having the shell off for any amount of time, on the bench, would be more of a problem.
I am sure, folks were using real dirt and stone long before someone decided we need something else to worry about.
BTW I was just on the Arizona rock& mineral site; I did not find anywhere that they state that thire products are sterilized,baked, or ran thru witha magnet.
AS far as Arizona Rock and Mineral is concerned, why don't you ask them?
Woodland Scenics fine turf in brown or tan is a bit more expensive, but is safe.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I got somw tan grout ad have been doing some tests. Really like the look may need to get some darker for some contrast. Wetting the surface then spread the grout followed by more water gives the look I am after but these little bubbles are showing up and now it looks like lava rock. How can I get rid of the bubbles? My guess is my water is not wet enough.
Never messed with grout but I would try isopropyl alcohol
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
When I use grout I brush a very thin coat of white glue down and sprinkle the grout on it and leave it at that. If I don't like the colour I hit it lightly with the airbrush. I don't sprinkle water on top of it after as I think that takes away the granular look (fine grained as it is).