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Desert Dirt

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  • Member since
    January 2008
  • 595 posts
Desert Dirt
Posted by mreagant on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 9:09 AM

Does anyone know what Pelle Soeburg uses for the ground base for the desert on his UP layout featured in the current MR and on the video on this web site?  The article clearly explains the vegitation, but says nothing about the dirt it's growing in.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:03 AM

 Pelle used scenery products from:

Arizona Rock & Mineral Co.

http://www.rrscenery.com/

 Edit:

 I wonder why he did not use "native" Danish dirt, sifted and baked, from the beaches of his lovely country.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Sunny SoCal
  • 423 posts
Posted by Margaritaman on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 11:57 AM

aka "real dirt" sifted through a screen.  Same thing I did with mine.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • 595 posts
Posted by mreagant on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:53 PM

Where I live (central Texas) real dirt would be the wrong color and the AZ scenery web site didn't help much as I couldn't find what appeared to be the stuff he used.  Locally available sand is too brown.

Thanks anyway.  I may have to wing it, maybe with fine buff ballast.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 12:56 PM

If I want some desert dirt to sift all I have to do is step into my back yard.

Unfortunately, my native dirt bears no resemblance to the deep brown forest floor loam in the Upper Kiso Valley.

Chuck (Modeling cedar-forested Central Japan in September, 1964 - in the Dessicated Desert)

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Clinton, MO, US
  • 4,261 posts
Posted by Medina1128 on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 2:07 PM

I use a thin layer of plaster for my scenery. While the plaster is still wet, I sift dry plaster on it. This gives it a nice texture, simulating small rocks and dirt. When it's dry, I paint whatever ground color I want; browner for midwest dirt, since it's usually damp; light tan for arid regions.

 

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