Hi Guy's what do you use for dirt? mixture's ? I look at dirt in my back yard and it's to rich and dark looking. not like any of the layout's I seen here and on net. Thanks Dennis
I use 2 things: (1) NEBrownstone "Super Dirt". (2) stuff I screened from a bag of paver base. The latter is a bit darker grey, the "Super Dirt" is more of a beige color. I also have a big bucket of 'decomposed granite' that I got from alongside I-93 :-)
dave
Dave, 93? You talking about were they are doing all the construction where we have those big rock crusher's? Hmmmmmm lol they didn't shoot you lol ?
I got that dirt about 30 years ago, when we lived in Derry NH and I drove 93 to work every day. That's some well-traveled stuff, it went from Derry to Vancouver BC to Reston VA and now to Dover NH.
The problem with getting dirt from the highway, at least in northern climates, is that it'll have a lot of salt in it.
dave
You are 100% right... Were neighbors almost :)
Dennis
This is a big topic for Fine Scale Model Railroaders. The dirt I use for my roads and yards comes from a clay pit in Northern Michigan. It is the only place in Michigan where I have found dirt that is fine enough texture for HO scale. The texture is the key. The color can be changed with soft pastel chalks. For fill I use fine Lake Michigan beach sand but I need to add finer sand over the top of it to make it look right. The fine sand that I use I make even finer with a mortar and Pestle before applying it over my beach sand fill.
Absolutely John, It's a big topic. That's why I ask the best modeler's I know. Honestly I can not find anything here in New Hampshire like a dirt pit or road side shopping :) So I must wing it and come up with something the best I can. Dennis
I just use dirt. I dug some up last fall, put it though a thrift shop blender and it comes out more like dust. It is super fine, perhaps a bit too fine.
Granted, the dirt was trucked in, most likely from a borrow pit near the Missouri River.
Do I remember correctly, that George Sellios obtained dirt from a baseball diamond? (Would make sense, George was quite the ball player...)
dave
I look for any type of construction site to get my dirt. The dirt used on baseball diamonds is a very fine clay material and is the best stuff , but I haven't been able to use it, because I can't find any. You need to be careful if you use a silt as it has mica in it which are all those shiny particles you will see in it. So the dirt I get from a construction site, I will sift it thru several sieves, the last one a nylon stocking which will give you a very fine particles. I will keep some of the dirt on a larger sieves and also use to add texture to my ground cover
Dave, I read it's a mixture. 50% topsoil and maybe 50% brick dust. Nobody should be around at the Concord high school ? Thank you Steve.....Dennis
Dave I found this stuff.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/True-Pitch-Flex-A-Clay-Softball-and-Baseball-Field-Clay-1-Bag/53736937
I use lake Ontario beach sand as the base to cover the surface of the plywood board . Gives a great surface for the foams to stick to. After that I use the fine ground coloured foams from Woodland Scenics along with their spray glue. I also like their Foliage bags and use them to create vines on walls.
Because I am working in O scale the beach sand can get a little big so you have to sift it. The really finely powdered sifted material turns dark brown like mud and doesn't look right.
mike lynch ..........HAIRBALL
Quote from: sdrees on April 18, 2020, 09:36:02 PM
I look for any type of construction site to get my dirt. The dirt used on baseball diamonds is a very fine clay material and is the best stuff , but I haven't been able to use it, because I can't find any. You need to be careful if you use a silt as it has mica in it which are all those shiny particles you will see in it. So the dirt I get from a construction site, I will sift it thru several sieves, the last one a nylon stocking which will give you a very fine particles. I will keep some of the dirt on a larger sieves and also use to add texture to my ground cover
I have a bucket of dirt I scarfed from a mound just outside of a little league baseball diamond which I'm pretty sure is the same stuff. I bake it to dry it out and kill any little critters that might be in there and then sift it like you describe. A lot of effort but a bucket goes a long way. :P
Thank you Bob and Mike........Dennis
The baseball diamond dirt can actually be purchased in a 50 lb bag at most lumber stores. I bought a bag last year near winter and because it was frozen I put it in a big deep frying pan and onto the BBQ , made it nice and dry and then onto the sifter and panty hose over cup container. Different grades for different areas. :)
Thank you Lynnb, I just bought 2 bags and I will experiment as soon as it shows up. Was on sale.Dennis
https://www.walmart.com/ip/True-Pitch-Flex-A-Clay-Softball-and-Baseball-Field-Clay-1-Bag/53736937
Quote from: Dennis Bourey on April 22, 2020, 03:34:14 PM
Thank you Lynnb, I just bought 2 bags and I will experiment as soon as it shows up. Was on sale.Dennis
https://www.walmart.com/ip/True-Pitch-Flex-A-Clay-Softball-and-Baseball-Field-Clay-1-Bag/53736937
I take it you bought two bags to get the free shipping? ;D
Lynnb, Hell Ya, They wanted more for shipping then the cost of the dirt lol...Dennis
Jeff Grove turned me on to using sanded grout. You can get it in different colors from your home improvement store.
Jaime
Jamie thank you. I will check on that as soon they let me in Lowes lol
Bob Brown wrote about using sanded grout for dirt in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of the Gazette in his editorial.
- FYI
;D ;D ;D
Bruce, Thanks. I don't have that issue...Dennis
I tried the back yard dirt baking and sifting procedure and liked what I got. When I tried to apply it as ground cover when I sprayed it with the usual diluted white glue mixture it dried into a very dark color that I didn't like. Tried another area using a mixture of home made Scenic Cement using matte medium and the color didn't darken. It's important to let the talcum settle in the matte medium mixture or you will see white in your ground cover. I have no idea why the white glue darkens the dirt?
You can see the difference in these test samples.
Wow very true, Good job Rubbergauge......Dennis