Ground color

I always check the dollar bin first. Earth color is a depends answer. each part of country is different. I would tend towards a bit on light side. You can always darken it with ground covers

Earth is not a single color, but a mix. The location can change the base color.

Many techniques, most start with some highlight colors, then a general color over everything.

YouTube can give you some ideas of the varying techniques and products used.

Umber, Burnt Umber, Black diluted fit with most areas.

 here's a Woodland Scenics video showing how to splash on varying colors.

Whatever you use, think thin and not real neat. (at least not to start)

Yes, definitely start at the "oops" counter in Home Depot.  It will save you a small fortune. Many color choices will do.  Do not be afraid to tint house paint using craft paints.  The colors that Moonman mention would be a good start.

When you are working in rocky, high-elevation areas it is actually best to start with a flat black base coat, and dry-brushing the lighter colors on top of that. Think like an artist: You paint the background shadows first and then add the foreground.

Finally, end with (very) dry-brushed pure white. This creates highlights as in bright sun.  This is the secret to making stonework pop.

what climate/ area are you modeling?  forest dirt can be almost black while desert landscapes are mostly lighter tan mixed in with other pastel colors.

No special climate/area, just want to cover around the rocks and then the plaster cloth, then I will cover with grass, etc.  Thanks all you good people for so far your replies.  sonny

Sonny, it depends on the color of earth you are going for and the area in which you are modeling. I use a lighter color latex paint (think almost bandaid color) and mix in acrylics to tint to suit. I then use real sifted dirt from my yard over top. I do add in some white glue to help with the bond. For areas that are traveled on such as roads, I simply sand down the area with a light sandpaper. In the un touched areas I tend to leave it a little rough and then sprinkle various forms of ground cover over. See my other posts and pics as suggestions.

I go to the hardware store - just about any hardware store will do, I happen to use Ace, but it does not matter.  They all sell small "sample" bottles of latex wall paint for about $3 each - the idea is that you can take a small sample of a color home and play with it to see if you like the color in your house, etc.  They come in all kinds of "earth tones" and I've bought a number of light brown, mid brown, light green, greenish yellow, green, and dark green --even a granite gray.  I use them as the undercoat on which I then add vegetation, etc. 

dont be obsessed with the color. Pick a brown and add layers of ground cover

This post is from several month back. There is a paint mix listed for an earth-tone.

Plaster cloth application to a module.  Fabrication of the part that doesn't come in the box.





















I stapled a base layer of plaster cloth on the hillside relief, using two overlays, Woodland Scenics or Scenic Express, I have both. Once installed, I wet the cloth with a brush and allowed it to harden.    It appeared a bit too smooth, so I did additional detail with pieces of wet cloth installed randomly.
Paint used is Benjamin Moore Deep Base N215 3B (Mix BK 6 1/2, BR 2 3/4, OY 13, Quart can)
Flock and Turf uses is Scenic Express EX897B Green Adirondack Blend. Small pieces of coal were added.
Retaining walls and post detail are part of the BTS Cabin Creek Coal Tipple Kit.

I really like that BTS Cabin Creek kit! Nice job!

It really depends on the area of the country you're trying to replicate. My RR is set in the Northeast. I painted the surface with a base coat of a medium to dark grey, covered it with washed sand and then added ground cover. Simple and straightforward.

jackson

Here is a link to a very good thread on ground color March this year.

"Base Color before laying track".