Changing Scenery - what would you suggest?

[DKS]

What a number of you have described sounds like a technique that was popular in the 70's called zip texturing.

Zip texturing! Wow, talk about a blast from the past. I first recall reading about zip texturing in Model Railroader's first major N scale layout feature. I don't recall the issue or the title--any N scale old-timers here remember? They used all Arnold Rapido stuff. Was that Gordon Odegard?

I think its in my original N Scale Primer (1979) - I'll have to check tonight.

It's not the Clinchfield... it's much earlier, and a much smaller layout.

[mionerr]

It's in the Bill McClennahan (sp?) scenery book for sure.
What was the first MR N scale project railroad? I don't think I ever noticed. My MRs are complete back to '72. My brother in law says he's going to give me (dump I think he said) his MRs to me. They go back much further.

[Philip H]

The N scale Primer (1st edition) was way before MR published CLinchfield as a series of articles.  But we digress.

I lik ethe look of the grout idea - I may go get some this weekend and try it.  Seems like the original idea of using a commercial "dirt" mix works better in HO.

[up1950s]

http://www.tstmodellismo.it/index.php?manufacturers_id=42%3DGale%20Force%209&sort=3a&filter_id=1&language=en

[UP1996]

This may have been mentioned in this thread already - if so, I apologize.

Next time you're at the big box home improvement center of either the blue or orange flavor check out something called "sanded tile grout." It comes in a variety of textures, earth tone colors, and makes ideal ground cover without the need to bake out little critters or deal with the clay that's in most soils (at least in the eastern US).

Marty

No need to apologize! It was brought up on page 2.  I use two colors of Polyblend, "Fawn" and "Camel"
I'll have to get a better shot, but in this scene you can see the "Fawn" by the water tank and in between the siding and main line.



I learned to get a few shades darker than what the color swatch on the label is as the grout is a bit lighter than what it states.

Here is a color chart for Polyblend.
http://www.thisoldgrout.com/custom.htm

That's the color and texture I'm looking for. I notice the orange box store has those colors in sanded and non-sanded. Do you use sanded? and do you mix with water/alcohol prior to applying or sprinkle it on? TIA.

[Ian MacMillan]

That's the color and texture I'm looking for. I notice the orange box store has those colors in sanded and non-sanded. Do you use sanded? and do you mix with water/alcohol prior to applying or sprinkle it on? TIA.

I use real dirt in HO scale, and did in N. However I have now switched to using Polyblend Sanded Grout for my base as it has a much more scale dirt texture.

[Philip H]

So I went to the Orange Flavored big box store on the way home last night - and they do have a limited selection of Polyblend Sanded Grouts in stock - mostly of the sand or light brown variety.  I'll have to keep looking - I did find two potential colors on the Polyblend chart that would work.

[DKS]

If the big box stores haven't extinguished every other building supply in your area, I'd recommend stopping in and seeing if they have concrete dyes. These can be used to tint the sanded grout, so you're not relying solely on available colors. Also, some of the big box stores might have tinting dyes either in the paint or the flooring sections, so keep an eye out for them as well.

[Ian MacMillan]

Or if the small stores dont have it and not the tints you want maybe I can see if mine has it and I can ship it out (but will that be cost efficient?). The Sunny D flavored big box in Conway,NH where I get mine has a huge selection of Sanded and non Sanded Polyblend, I believe its the entire line. Your HD maybe able to order it for you as well.

[DKS]

By the way, it might be good to have either a series of different materials on hand (like different shades of grout, if you go that route), different types of dirt, and/or a number of dyes or colorants on hand. In any given region there will be variations in dirt color, sometimes radical. Notice the wide variety of coloration in the earth in this one view:

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qpsxf58tp7jj&scene=9188639&lvl=2&sty=b

Here, colors range from light tans to dark greys, with many shades in between. Often the colors will be similar in some way; for areas that are dominated by shales, for instance, they will tend to be ruddy; the example above is from eastern New Jersey, where the dirt is mostly sand, so the color palette will tend toward pale tans.

[Ian MacMillan]

Exactly. I got 2 brown shades that I use for most of the layout, but I may end up picking up some black to represent base cinder areas or oil soaked areas.


BTW I've never seen that railroad from the air before and was shocked to see that entire shop complex for this little loop that is remaining!

[DKS]

BTW I've never seen that railroad from the air before and was shocked to see that entire shop complex for this little loop that is remaining!

Originally, back in the 60s, they'd planned on building a 3-4 mile dogbone. But it would have involved building a substantial bridge, not to mention leasing a lot more land from the state. They simply didn't have the resources to pull it off with only volunteers and donations, and had to scale back to a 5/8-mile loop. Pity; it would have been a nice run.

[DKS]

What a number of you have described sounds like a technique that was popular in the 70's called zip texturing.

Zip texturing! Wow, talk about a blast from the past. I first recall reading about zip texturing in Model Railroader's first major N scale layout feature. I don't recall the issue or the title--any N scale old-timers here remember? They used all Arnold Rapido stuff. Was that Gordon Odegard?

I think its in my original N Scale Primer (1979) - I'll have to check tonight.

It's not the Clinchfield... it's much earlier, and a much smaller layout.

Found it: Enfield & Ohio, December 1966. Zip texturing was covered in the Feb 67 issue: "12345: zip code for the E&O: zip texturing"

[Philip H]

Thanks for all the help guys.

Ian - I have several more HD's to scope out, so no worries about buying and shipping just yet.

David - I plan to get at least two colors, as the soil series maps for the area (along with my photos from days gone by) show two distinct soil types.  One is a "dark gray brown surface expression" the other is a "gray-brown to brown."  The Soil Series profile photos are even neater and more varied.

[diezmon]

I do a kind of zip texturing, using grout.  I slap on white glue, full strength, and brush it smooth.   Then I use a pantyhose to sprinkle on the grout.  Once I have it on heavy enough, to the point where you can't see the glue come through, I put a piece of paper over it and smooth it all out with my hand.  Then gently lift off the paper.

I end up with a textured, but smooth finish.   After that I sift on various other colors and ground foam.




On weedier areas, I simply apply my foam on top of all that.