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Model Forum / General / Railroads / October 2003A true "earth" colored ground foam needed!
Some folks have suggested that "sunlight" fluorescent tubes will make Woodland Scenics' Earth Fine Turf (ground foam) look like the real thing. Well, I don't think that's the answer after all. I tried 2 warm white tubes and it still doesn't look brown. I even took it outside in natural sunlight and I still see it to be a brown with a decidedly green tinge to it. I think the answer might be another manufacturer's ground foam - perhaps someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a clay color??? > I think the answer might be another manufacturer's ground foam - perhaps > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a > clay color??? Well, dirt, finely screened, has been lauded by several folk in the past. But they're not making it any more.  SignatureSteve Caple Well, dirt, finely screened, has been lauded by several folk in the past. But they're not making it any more. ---------------------------------------------- Fortunately, there is enough on hand to last for several more years.<g> Bill Bill's Railroad Empire N Scale Model Railroad: http://www.billsrailroad.net Brief History of N Scale: http://www.billsrailroad.net/history/n-scale Resources: Links to over 700 helpful sites: http://www.billsrailroad.net/bills-favorite-links Bookstore: http://www.billsrailroad.net/bookstore.html > Well, dirt, finely screened, has been lauded by several folk in the > past. > But they're not making it any more. > ---------------------------------------------- > > Fortunately, there is enough on hand to last for several more years.<g> Unfortunately, I've heard a rumour that God is going to start charging us if we use it because he wants to protect his creative property and public image. Paul - "The CB&Q Guy" You know, I've actually thought of that, but how do you hold it in place? Doesn't it turn to "mud" if you soak it with wetted water and then diluted glue? Frank > > I think the answer might be another manufacturer's ground foam - perhaps > > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > But they're not making it any more. "Frank Eva" <frank-eva@wi.rr.com>, In a message on Tue, 21 Oct 2003 16:52:30 -0500, wrote : "E> You know, I've actually thought of that, but how do you hold it in place? "E> Doesn't it turn to "mud" if you soak it with wetted water and then diluted "E> glue? Yes. BUT then the glue dries, and then it is much like hard packed ground. You don't really need to create 'flood' conditions either. That is 'soak' is not really the idea. 'Dampen' is more the idea. You could also 'paint' a heavy coat of glue (or matte medium) and sprinkle the dirt on the 'sticky' surface. "E> "E> Frank "E> "E> > In article <hTYkb.57736$pg7.407@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com>, frank- "E> > eva@wi.rr.com says... "E> > > I think the answer might be another manufacturer's ground foam - perhaps "E> > > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown "E> or a "E> > > clay color??? "E> > "E> > Well, dirt, finely screened, has been lauded by several folk in the "E> > past. "E> > "E> > But they're not making it any more. "E> > "E> > "E> > -- "E> > Steve Caple "E> "E> "E> \/ Robert Heller ||InterNet: heller@cs.umass.edu http://vis-www.cs.umass.edu/~heller || heller@deepsoft.com http://www.deepsoft.com /\FidoNet: 1:321/153 Frank, Yes it does, but it drys out and looks natural again. Been using real dirt for over 45 years. Bill > You know, I've actually thought of that, but how do you hold it in place? > Doesn't it turn to "mud" if you soak it with wetted water and then diluted [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > > > But they're not making it any more. I use worm bedding, finly screened. > Some folks have suggested that "sunlight" fluorescent tubes will make > Woodland Scenics' Earth Fine Turf (ground foam) look like the real thing. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a > clay color??? And where do you get worm bedding? How fine does the screen have to be, and how do you hold it in place - wetted water and diluted glue? Frank > I use worm bedding, finly screened. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a > > clay color??? Kameapart or any bate shop should have it. A kitchen sive workes for me. I spread white glue streight from the bottle and sprinkle the ground cover on to it. After drying I vacuume the loose up and reuse it. > And where do you get worm bedding? How fine does the screen have to be, and > how do you hold it in place - wetted water and diluted glue? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > or a > > > clay color??? Frank... I'm sure you'll get many e-mails with the same response... why not just use sifted dirt?... I do, as does every other modeler I know. If you feel the need to purchase it, my friend Martin Collard of Borodino Scale Models in upstate NY (Syracuse Region) actually has very finely ground stuff available. The ground foam is not only the wrong color, but the wrong texture as well. Art Fahie > Some folks have suggested that "sunlight" fluorescent tubes will make > Woodland Scenics' Earth Fine Turf (ground foam) look like the real thing. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a > clay color??? > I'm sure you'll get many e-mails with the same response... why not > just use sifted dirt?... I do, as does every other modeler I know. If > you feel the need to purchase it, my friend Martin Collard of Borodino > Scale Models in upstate NY (Syracuse Region) actually has very finely > ground stuff available. The ground foam is not only the wrong color, > but the wrong texture as well. Well, I'm going to give Scenic Express' ground foam a try. At least in the catalog, the colors look more natural. Frank > Some folks have suggested that "sunlight" fluorescent tubes will make > Woodland Scenics' Earth Fine Turf (ground foam) look like the real thing. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a > clay color??? Why not use finely sifted real dirt indigenous to the area that you are modeling? That would be the west, but not any specific area. Since I live in the Midwest, it's going to be hard to get indigenous materials. Frank > > Some folks have suggested that "sunlight" fluorescent tubes will make > > Woodland Scenics' Earth Fine Turf (ground foam) look like the real thing. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Why not use finely sifted real dirt indigenous to the area that you are modeling? > Why not use finely sifted real dirt indigenous to the area that you are modeling? If this method is used, also sift it over a magnet to remove any iron particles. Otherwise they like to break off (crumble off) and find their way into locomotive motors. > > Why not use finely sifted real dirt indigenous to the area that you are modeling? > > If this method is used, also sift it over a magnet to remove any iron > particles. Otherwise they like to break off (crumble off) and find > their way into locomotive motors. I would also be concerned about the possibility of growing mold and other undesirable things in real dirt. Can it be sterilized? >> > Why not use finely sifted real dirt indigenous to the area that you are >modeling? >I would also be concerned about the possibility of growing mold and >other undesirable things in real dirt. Can it be sterilized? I never thought of this. I don't think it would be a problem due to the fact that it would be fairly well sealed by the dilluted white glue that holds it in place. I've used alot of dirt and twigs over the years and never had a problem with it getting "funky". -John >I would also be concerned about the possibility of growing mold and other undesirable things in real dirt. Can it be sterilized?< Bake it in an oven at 400-500 for a half hour or so. > I would also be concerned about the possibility of growing mold and > other undesirable things in real dirt. Can it be sterilized? I've used finely sifted dirt on my modules and dioramas for quite some time now without any problems. I use the finely ground material found on a baseball diamond, and sift it several times so it is just really fine and coarser dust. It is not soil like found in a garden that would be full of nutrients and plant materials. And since it turns rock hard with the paint or white glue used to fasten it down, I doubt if it would support any living things. Bob Boudreau Canada Been watching this thread for a while - I too use the real thing, oftentimes gathered from areas similar to where I'm modeling. I use an old chemistry mortar and pestle set to grind it into a powder, then the glue and water bit. Never had a problem with it. And when folks ask, I can truely say, nothing looks like dirt better than the real thing! Matt > > I would also be concerned about the possibility of growing mold and > > other undesirable things in real dirt. Can it be sterilized? [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Bob Boudreau > Canada >Been watching this thread for a while - I too use the real thing, oftentimes >gathered from areas similar to where I'm modeling. I use an old chemistry [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >>Canada >> I didn't know you could paint permafrost, Bob.... Jim Stewart > Some folks have suggested that "sunlight" fluorescent tubes will make > Woodland Scenics' Earth Fine Turf (ground foam) look like the real thing. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a > clay color??? Frank, I share the same opinion. For my layout I started using real clay dust. Sand didn't cut it either for dirt roads and such. Ball diamonds are a great spot to get a little clay dust. In the dry summer weather, it seems to be almost as fine as talcolm powder and has that yellowish tan color to it. It tends to dry a little darker after being mixed up with white glue and water. Another material I have always wanted to try for that dusty earth look is dry powdered paint pigments. I can't get it around here, but I'll bet it would be worth taking a look at if you can find it. Doug If you want real fine dirt, find someone who has a horse with an indoor arena. The dirt inside gets turned into an amazingly fine dust. We have to keep adding water, fresh dirt, etc... to try to keep from choking to death when riding. Plenty to go around most places. -ken c \> Another material I have always wanted to try for that dusty earth look > is dry powdered paint pigments. I can't get it around here, but I'll > bet it would be worth taking a look at if you can find it. Dry pigments are available from Scenic Express. BTW, mixing dry pigments with plaster and sifting it on your landscape used to be called "Zip Texturing", but it fell out of grace when folks found out that the colors faded rather rapidly. Frank Frank wrote: "Some folks have suggested that "sunlight" fluorescent tubes will make Woodland Scenics' Earth Fine Turf (ground foam) look like the real thing. Well, I don't think that's the answer after all. I tried 2 warm white tubes and it still doesn't look brown. I even took it outside in natural sunlight and I still see it to be a brown with a decidedly green tinge to it. I think the answer might be another manufacturer's ground foam - perhaps someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a clay color???" Try diatomaceous earth. It's used in pool filters and as a natural insecticide. Diatomaceous earth scenery Railroad Model Craftsman, October 1988 page 96 (DIRT,"NEHRICH,JOHN",SCENERY, RMC) Eric We have sold tons of our "Earths" over the last fifteen years nation wide. You can see in on our web site at http://www.rrscenery.com After seeing all these post on the topic, I couldn't stand holding back anymore. -- Phil Anderson Up hill slow, down hill fast, tonnage first, safety last. > Some folks have suggested that "sunlight" fluorescent tubes will make > Woodland Scenics' Earth Fine Turf (ground foam) look like the real thing. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > someone here can recommend a ground foam that really looks either brown or a > clay color??? |
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