There are textured rattle can paints that may have the color and fine texture you are looking for.
Good luck,
Richard
richhotrain Woodland Scenics Fine Ballast Buff. It looks just like the real thing. Rich
Woodland Scenics Fine Ballast Buff. It looks just like the real thing.
Rich
That's what I used for a small beach scene. I also used it in the bin for my sanding tower. Obviously it's grossly out of scale but your aren't looking at individual grains. You are looking at the whole pile so for me it is suitable. If you want to get something a little finer, ashtray sand is probably the best bet but every source I checked is pretty expensive. You can find it on Amazon.
I understand that true 1/87 scale sand would be pretty tought to see.
I'm thinking it would be a bit over scaled in order to be able to perceive that its sand, but much less chunky than ballast. I've already painted the plywood a grayish buff color and it makes a big difference, but it needs texture and some undulation.
There is a golf course nearby that just rebuilt its bunkers using finer whiter sand. I might find a few cups and run it through a flour sifter to separate the really fine particles. Lay it like ballast and apply thinned glue.
Bring some home from a Florida beach and sift?
- Douglas
Tile grout.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
If you want to push the envelope, I think you can get silicon carbide in sizes that match HO sand.
I went online to a place called Washington Mills. They've got charts and stuff. And phone numbers to call.
I assumed sand to be .01" in diameter. They list silicon carbide grit in size FEPA 320, which pretty much matches the HO scale reduction. It comes smaller, too.
The trick is how to stick the stuff down firmly, 'cause you don't want it loose. Then once it's stuck down, it might be the wrong color. Will the paint coat be thicker than the grit?
Should you care to persue this, please let us know how it works out.
Ed
Alton Junction
Tinted/dyed plaster or spackle. Grains of sand, in any scale less than about 1/6, would be impossible to resolve with the human eye, so they'd not be discernible. Best just to use smoothed and dyed plaster.
What do y'all use?
I'm looking to use it as ground cover in places, exposed in the spots not covered by vegetation. The layout has a Florida-ish theme.