What do you use for dirt piles

Dirt?

faux dirt

Elaborate on what sort of dirt piles your refering so we can understand the nature of them and perhaps suggest something sensible. But dirt is cheap...as in "dirt cheap" and as such, may be exactly the solution if you can find dirt suitable to your artistic needs.

Bob

I have used dried out coffee grounds...

you knew that was coming

If you want it to look like dirt, use dirt. Why use anything else?

Dirt

One way would be to use some rolled up newspaper, made to whatever size you'd want your dirt pile to be.  Then drape over it with some plaster cloth, paint it brown or whatever color you want and sprinkle real dirt over it while wet.  Or just spread glue over the mound and sprinkle the dirt on it.

You can make small dirt piles or rolling hills this way.

Another option would be to carve some styrofoam to the shape you want and paint or spread glue on it then the dirt while it's wet.

And, there's generally some available - e.g. the aforementioned "cheap dirt".

One gravel and one dirt pile in center of photo.

I like to sprinkle a loose pile of whatever so that it assumes a natural angle of repose.  Then when I have the right shape, I spray it with wet water and then drip on dilute white glue with an eye dropper. If hardens the pile into a shell without affecting its look.

As for the "whatever", see my previous post on "Tube Sand":

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/d...742#2415514336539742

A rough shaped mound of styrofome painted flat brown or what ever the localities color is to be represented.

After trying other choices, I sifted some dirt and use it. The road in the picture is all actual dirt. For piles I just make the pile and use Woodland Scenics diluted glue with the dropper or spray to harden it.

All kidding aside, dirt.

I always find that when I apply a wet water glue mix on top of dirt, the dirt darkens and hardens/compacts, for lack of a better word, and doesn't look so much like the loose dirt that I started with.

Is there a secret I need to know?

thanks - walt

Walt,

Yes, I should have made more clear: I dont actually use real dirt. The trouble you describe is, I think, due to the organic material in dirt, which absorbs water and compacts.  That is why I like various sand textures.   They are all mineral and so are more stable. I find that by staining them with various washes, and by using different textures, I can get good approximations of most materials. I like sifting tube sand exactly because it gives a less uniform result. I find most commercial materials too uniform. Although adding a small amounts to the mix often is useful.

Arizona rock and mineral has a large assortment of very fine rock powders to use in lieu of real dirt.  May also try the earth blends from Scenic express or Woodland scenics. These blends are flocks

For dirt roads I use a mix of flock and real dirt (fine from scenic express). Can probably do the same for piles. I find it not necessary to use glue with scenery base.

Bill D

Walt, the secret is that the dirt should be the last thing added. You want the dirt on top of the glue.

Walt,

What Vulc said...and keep sifting dirt on the glue until it looks dry on top. Later, but before the glue sets, sift on a little more dirt wherever the dampness shows through.

When the glue is dry, brush or vacuum up the excess. The top layer will look dry, but be securely fastened to the ground cover.

Jim

thanks for the tips!!!!  I wish I had a project planned to give it a whirl!!!!

I will definitely remember this.  BTW: the "dirt" that I used on my last project, a drive-in scene, was Scenic Expresses fine dirt, or earth blend, or whatever it's called. 

I put a layer of straight glue on the base first, spreading it with a wetted finger.  I did this in sections at a time.  I then sprinkled the dirt on.  I guess the mistake that I made was that I then used wet water with a minimal glue component to bring the glue up thru the dirt with capillary action.  It's what I do when I apply ground foam turf and such and that works very well.  But it didn't work well with 'dirt'.

I was going to include pictures but my images don't reflect the lack of 'looseness' look.

- walt

Walt,

Scenic express natural fine dirt is different from their earth blend. The first one is sifted natural dirt and gets pasty and very smooth when wetted. The other is a synthetic flock from foam.

Build form out of cardboard or foam, spread tinted fusionfiber over it, add cover to wet fiber, mist lightly with wet water, allow it to dry.

And the final answer is......this one!

If you are going to use dirt, bake it in the oven first @350' for 20 minutes, then sift it with a fine screen.  This will kill if any micro insects along with their eggs that maybe laying in waiting for a hatch.

Here is a photo from my board using dirt.

Thanks for that clarification!  I made a note of it.

- walt

Hi,

   i used regular old dirt that was baked in an oven for a bit to kill any type of organisms.

   Kevin

I've been using dirt for 20 + years and I've never baked it. All you need to do is allow it to dry.

Sigh .  .  .  I have just created a dirt road that I think looks a lot like a real dirt road.

I used real dirt form the yard and baked it for one hour at 450 degrees. I knew it was ready when the smoke from the twigs in the dirt started coming out of the oven. To make matters even more interesting, I left my wife's sifter on the counter. When she came home, she asked why the sifter was out.

Huh?

Why is the sifter out?

Sifter?

(Glare)

I was baking.

Baking what?

Yes.

What?  (she was inching toward the machete)

I baked some dirt.

(Smile). (Evil smile) You used my flour sifter to sift baked dirt?

I had one eye on my wife and one eye on the patio door. She was a champion swimmer but I was motivated by fear.

We can name the road Sifter Road.

I'll get you a new sifter.

Put that down.

You said you loved me.

I'll get you a new sifter.

Scrappy

Some folks are just determined to live dangerously,