Hi Guys,
I couldn't wait to share my latest discovery. For years, I've used Woodland Scenics "dirts" and never really was totally satisfied with the results. They don't create a real flat surface because they are composed of ground up foam that has a certain amount of "loft" to it.
I recently bought some "Crayola Powder Paint", available in local craft stores or on-line from places like the following:
http://www.misterart.com/g1306/Crayola-Powder-Paint.htm
I mixed black and brown in equal amounts into an empty "spice shaker". You know, the shakers that come loaded with paprika, oregano, etc. that have small holes on top for shaking out the spices. I spread my 50/50 mixture of Elmer's White Glue and water like I always do for scenicing an area and then shook on the Crayola Powder Paint. Before it dried, I added the usual other textures, using Woodland Scenics different light and coarse materials. When the area dried, I had what looked like real dirt. And, it was flat, like real dirt, without the "loft" I mentioned before. I also used this stuff to sprinkle over already-sceniced areas to blend colors together. This stuff is cheap and could scenic a lot of area.
I think I'm going to buy some other colors, like red, yellow and green and obviously could make a whole assortment of different color ground cover by varying the amounts of each color in the mix.
Hope this helps.
Mondo
This is called "Zip Texturing" and was very popular before ground foam was available. Sometimes it did not stand the test of time and became powdery, but the technique is still in use. Joe Fugate's model railroad scenery zip texturing clinic is a good on-line resource.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
I read his article but he mixes the powder paint with plaster. I've tried this and certainly it works. What I'm talking about is using the powder paint to sprinkle on top of an area and then adding other textures on top of it, while the white glue is wet. Also, if you want to darken an area already scenicked, this stuff does a great job of blending the colors.
And yes, I first painted my Homosote with a dirt-colored latex paint. So, what I'm trying to say is this powder paint approach is just another procedure which produces great results.
That stuff is called Tempra paint and I've used it here and there to simulate oil stains around a fueling platform for example but I have to hand it to you I would never have thought of using it for ground cover. I would be willing to bet that after you get it spread around the way you want it then mist it with a fine spray of water it will set up nicely.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
The best material for modeling "dirt" is dirt itself. Find a cheap strainer and sift your dirt to remove the unwanted debris. Sifting your dirt will turn it into a fine powder. Also its a good idea to also run a strong magnet through it to remove and metal particles. The best part of using this method is that it's free and plentiful.
Have Fun.... Bob.
Bob grech The best material for modeling "dirt" is dirt itself. Find a cheap strainer and sift your dirt to remove the unwanted debris. Sifting your dirt will turn it into a fine powder. Also its a good idea to also run a strong magnet through it to remove and metal particles. The best part of using this method is that it's free and plentiful.
Don't forget before you use any "real dirt" you need to bake it in an oven on a flat sheet at around 400 for about a half hour to kill the microbes living in the soil if you don't you aren't going to like what will happen. Contrary to what you might think dirt is alive and you'll need to kill it before you use it on your layout. The one advantage the O/P has by using tempra paint is he can adjust or mix it until he gets the desired colored soil he wants. The dried dirt you use from your yard isn't going to come remotely close to the look of a freshly plowed field, trust me I know
I have used about every known way of creating dirt, grass, shrubs, etc. and do what the rest of you do for the most part. However, I did use real dirt for the base. I model a part of Oklahoma which has the red dirt, and I never could find a way to really get it looking right with conventional methods. On one trip to Oklahoma, I took containers with me and we stopped on an oil lease road and filled them with Oklahoma sand/dirt. I brought it back to Kansas City, baked it, boiled it, fried it, sifted it, and tried it and it worked very well. In fact, I have used it all over the layout and the effect is remarkable. Okie friends who visit immediately recognize the dirt. That trip was ten years ago and I still have a dirt supply left, and the dirt on the layout has held up well.
"dirt is dirtier"
Bob
For real dirt, use a thrift store coffee grinder, makes it into a fine powder.
A friend of mine several years ago scooped up some dirt from his back yard....sifted it several times...cooked it in the oven...and then packaged it in dollar store clear plastic containers with a cool "DIRT" label on it with a picture of himself digging up the dirt with a shovel. He sold this "product" at the annual train show and made a MINT. Plain dirt can pay the bills baby!!
A true friend will not bail you out of jail...he will be sitting next to you saying "that was friggin awesome dude!" Tim...Modeling the NYC...is there any other?
Where was this train show Rubeville right nest to the turnip patch. .
I would suggest that you check Joe Fugate's DVD "Scenery and Bridges" Vol. 4, Part 1 for an excellent description of his use of the zip texturing method to create realistic dirt. The Crayola Powder Paint is no longer available. According to his scenery website referenced above, he is now using a comparable product called Rich Art - Fresco Powder Tempera that's available from Dick Blick Art Materials at www.dickblick.com. Using the zip texturing method he describes, he can adjust the color of the "dirt" to look more realistic under layout lighting than real dirt would be.
If you're going to use real dirt, you should definitely bake it to kill all the things living in it as suggested above. You also should pass a fairly strong magnet through it to remove any material that's magnetic that could get into the motors on your locos.
Anyone ever try using tile grout? It seems to come in the correct colors.
Thanks,
Mark
markie97 Anyone ever try using tile grout? It seems to come in the correct colors. Thanks, Mark
Mark I like the tile grout but have many colors to sift on and mix. I like to mix it with play sand so there is some texture. Now you may think the play sand is to big but try it and you will be suprised. The play sand takes on the color of the grout and then I like to sift on vareous colors to add veriety.
Here's some results for you,
This photo shows the embankment with the main color and the riverbed with a lighter color mixed in. I may darken the riverbed just a little. I also knocked off the larger bits of sand as it dried so it looked more smooth, like a dry river bed looks.
Now here is our base latex color with play sand pressed into it. the secret is in the base latex color. This modeler did use some of the grout to.
This module has many different grout colors. the dirt road was made buy simply wiping off(or knocking off) the high sand granules and adding a slightly lighter color of grout than the surrounding area.
Take a piece of wood and do some experiments. Thats what I did and I had four different looks to choose from.
John
RFinch I would suggest that you check Joe Fugate's DVD "Scenery and Bridges" Vol. 4, Part 1 for an excellent description of his use of the zip texturing method to create realistic dirt. The Crayola Powder Paint is no longer available. According to his scenery website referenced above, he is now using a comparable product called Rich Art - Fresco Powder Tempera that's available from Dick Blick Art Materials at www.dickblick.com. Using the zip texturing method he describes, he can adjust the color of the "dirt" to look more realistic under layout lighting than real dirt would be.If you're going to use real dirt, you should definitely bake it to kill all the things living in it as suggested above. You also should pass a fairly strong magnet through it to remove any material that's magnetic that could get into the motors on your locos.Bob
You can still buy Crayola Powder paint from these places, I buy all I want from AC Moore but don't see it online but these places list it.
http://www.teachersparadise.com/c/crayola-powder-paint-1-lb-brown-p-18426.html
I have read some partial info in that post on Joe Fugates forum clinic post in the past, which is posted above. Remember that if you are using dirt from outside, it may not look the way it does outside because of the lights in your layout room. Thats why Joe likes to use his method so he can color the dirt the way he wants it to compensate for the lighting above the layout.
FYI:
I just got off the phone with Crayola LLC. They said they have discontinued their line of Crayola Powder Paint. So if you have a source of this paint locally, you had better stock up because it's no longer available. I checked the two sources referenced by Allegheny and both of the websites show the Crayola Powder Paint out of stock.
As I said in my above post, Joe Fugate is now recommending Rich Art - Fresco Powder Tempera as an acceptable substitute for the Crayola Powder Paint.
I seem to be having trouble with this method, never get the right color and I use the new brand recommended.