Model Forum / General / Models / May 2009

I take it you are talking about very thick mud, not just mud color on
surfaces. I have not tried this, but have seen it written up.  One can
find colored powder/dyes to add to plaster and spackling compound at
hardware stores.  Get a brown/tan color, add appropriate amount to
spackling or plaster of paris and trowel it on.

There are really as many solutions as your imagination allows.
Moderate build ups of mud can be depicted using thickened or textured
paint. You can add talcum powder to ordinary enamel paint to thicken
it, and add any larger bits of grit or fiber to achieve a realistic
texture. In a pinch, I once used old cigarette ashes added to enamel
paint to create a moderate mud texture.
Acrylic texture gel can be found in art supply stores, which is simply
tube acrylic paint with a ground up texture medium added. You can add
small fibers from twine to depict grass mixed in, and add any kind of
grit if you want more distinct lumps. Just stipple it on during
construction and paint it an earth color during final finishing.
For heavier applications, Durham's Water Putty, a wall patching
compound available in North America, can be used to depict mud. It is
also a superb ground cover medium for dioramas. It comes as a powder,
so you mix as much or as little water as you deem necessary for the
particular application. If you sprinkle dry Durham's onto an
application of wet Durham's it soaks up the water and produces a nice,
gritty texture.
And of course, for massive accumulations of mud, Celluclay instant
papier mache (sold in art supply stores) or epoxy putty can be used
instead.
Gerald Owens

.  On May 28, 1:56 am, "Douglas R. Hortvet, Jr." <dhort...@pdq.net>
wrote: