Dirt Roads

[garethashenden]

All the roads on my layout are dirt and I'm having trouble modeling them convincingly. Real dirt seems to be too coarse, even though its quite fine. These are well maintained roads, just pre-asphalt. So I don't need huge ruts or anything like that. Maybe styrene painted brown?

How have you done it or would do it? N scale, of course.

[Chris333]

I have some stuff that is just about powder. And I like to rub it after the glue has dried. I tend to drybrush it as well so I'm not too picky about the color of the dirt I use because I can change it.

[chessie system fan]

I like this person's idea.

https://flic.kr/p/5PqzZ2

Using "Airclay."

https://flic.kr/p/bXgjaD

More process photos:

https://flic.kr/p/5PqA2Z
https://flic.kr/p/SWkZP8
https://flic.kr/p/ceCQVG
https://flic.kr/p/5PuRK1
https://flic.kr/p/cfboRm
https://flic.kr/p/cfbewU

[garethashenden]

I like this person's idea.

https://flic.kr/p/5PqzZ2

Using "Airclay."

https://flic.kr/p/bXgjaD

More process photos:

https://flic.kr/p/5PqA2Z
https://flic.kr/p/SWkZP8
https://flic.kr/p/ceCQVG
https://flic.kr/p/5PuRK1
https://flic.kr/p/cfboRm
https://flic.kr/p/cfbewU

Oh nice! Chris Nevard is an excellent modeler. I have some of that clay somewhere too, but I bet its rock hard at this point. But I can buy more, its cheap.

[John]

I’ve had some luck with grout.   Then rubbed with sandpaper.  Still rough though.   I think maybe using spackle is the key. 

[SP-Wolf]

My technique:
I glue down the natural dirt ground cover. Then I survey for the road. Then I take a wood chisel (That has been repurposed as a road grader) held at an an angle to scrape the road (Almost 90 degrees). After that I take a sanding block (the kind with a foam center) and sand the road. I then reglue the road. After drying, I re-sand. Then vacuum. Depending on how it looks - I may repeat the sanding process.



Thanks,
Wolf

[ednadolski]

Using "Airclay."

Can that be tinted with pigments/powders?

Ed

[garethashenden]

Can that be tinted with pigments/powders?

Ed

I haven't tried it, but you can apparently kneed in acrylic paint.

I have painted it after it dried.

[Dave V]

Sanded grout.

[CRL]

Glue down finely sifted dirt using standard diluted white glue. Then take a piece of fine wet/dry sandpaper wrapped around your finger and sand the dirt until dust is produced. Then gently blow the dust away. This dust will adhere to any nearby structures and surfaces doing a better job of weathering than you could do on purpose.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Sanded grout.

This is the way.

[garethashenden]

This is the way.

So far in the pocket of Big Sanded Grout... 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So far in the pocket of Big Sanded Grout... 

It's true. I'm such a Stan

[craigolio1]

I used ash from my fireplace, sifted. Turned out great!

[Brian M]

Depending on how fine you're looking to go, another possibility is to keep sifting dirt down to the point where you can put some in a container and wrap a woman's stocking over the opening of the container, then sift through that.  You'll basically end up with dust.

-Brian.