Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Hi,
I'm from England and i am just in the process of building a OO/HO layout for my daughter and because i am living on a pension i use the cheapest method i can which means using natural materials. i have natural soil from a number of locations on a stove top then sieved. I also use dried shredded leaves as ground cover natural twigs and beach sand (the sand from the dunes as far from the sea as possible to minimize the risk of salt) I also use the contents of dried tea bags water filter medium potting compost and natural ash from a preserved railroad.
On my own N gauge which is an old west layout I have used sand from various locations in south west Colorado my town area has sand from Buckskin Joe wild west town sandbanks in the river is sand from near but not on sand dunes national park and dried sagebrush. also for various colors of sand i add a few drops of food coloring to very fine sand and by varying the amount of food color there is an unlimited range of sand shades.
Using these methods i have not come across any problems and i usually paint the area to be covered with a white PVA glue sprinkle on the various pre-prepared natural products let it dry for a couple of days and then vacuum off and then save all the excess material for future use.
The problem with using play sand that there just isnt enough colors available to cover a perticular location a given modeler might be modeling.
While I use the White Play Sand - and have to agree with the poster on color.
I have used thinned Latex Paint to stain the white sand - While it isn't the best - I cover everything with Ground Foam anyway so very little of the Sand is seen!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
ChevelleSSguy The problem with using play sand that there just isnt enough colors available to cover a perticular location a given modeler might be modeling.
I have used real dirt without any of the treatments described above with no ill effects. I handle soil samples all the time in my profession and I always have sifted dirt that I can use. Critters in the soil need moisture to grow; they also (in most cases) need oxygen and a good organic substrate as a food source. If you use any of the adhesives to fasten the dirt (known as soil in my profession), to the layout, you're eliminating the combination of conditions that are necessary for microbes to grow.
As far as the metals are concerned, I have some fellow modelers who just use plenty of adhesive along with a thorough vacuuming of the surface when dry; they have had no problems.
Yes, it sure is. There are all kinds of organisms in dirt especially insect larva and eggs which will hatch and multiply in your house if you don't. Some of them will do quite well indoors and will find your house a wonderful source of food. Many things in the soil will begin to emit odors as well if the soil is unbaked.
One way to get a small sample of the odor would be to place an open jar open end down on the soil overnight and then pick it up the next morning and take a deep breath, you may not like the aroma and are only getting a small sample of it, I'll bet you would not like the house to smell like that.
Rob
I used real dirt for years and I baked it in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes after sifting it through a piece of window screen. Recently I switched over to using Sanded Grout from any building supply store. It comes in lots of different colors. I found it more consistent/less hassle then real dirt.
-Steve
After reading this thread I am seriously considering changing to a winter scene...something waaaaaay up north with 6' of snow covering the ground where the only thing exposed to the viewer is the freshly plowed track, ties, and ballast, some evergreen trees, rocks/mountains poking through the snow, the odd asphalt road here and there and vast expanses of white for ice fishing/snowmobiling...no dirt anywhere...! Of course myself and my guests would all be snowblind after an hour, which would create an entirely new set of potential health risks......LOL!
Happy modeling all!
Don.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
Necessary? Not if you don't mind little crawly critters all over your house? Metal cookie pan w 4 edges turned up, 400 degrees for about a half hour. Methods? After the bake, sift through fine screen, apply as other ballast types. Best for sidings, spurs. If you put it on in THIN layers, cracking not a problem. If it does, another light layer over it, soak well with 70% rubbing alcohol, or if you're modeling Kentucky, a good bourbon.
Why not use a grill I have 1 that has a lid with a thermostat in the lid. When I use oak and hickory limbs that I cut to length I can get the temp up to 450 easy then just place the cookie sheets of dirt on the grill and shut the lid and come back in an hour with a couple pair of channel locks to remove the trays of dirt. that way you stay out of the dog house LOL Good luck all and have a Great Day