Recomendations for making a dirt/gravel parking area.

[Lemosteam]

here are a few pics of my recipe; I use it for gravel roads, parking lots, and highway shoulders...

Love the look, what's the recipe?  I seem to recall seeing these pics in a different thread but i don't remember if the recipe is theer either.

[arbomambo]

Love the look, what's the recipe?  I seem to recall seeing these pics in a different thread but i don't remember if the recipe is theer either.

Highball z scale limestone ballast,  woodlands scenics n scale ' gravel', and Arizona Rock and Mineral 'earth' powder pigment....in equal parts....spread it, wet it with 'wet' water, then apply scenic cement.
Bruce

[Dave V]

I STRONGLY disagree with this advice in most cases. Grains of dirt in real life are boulder sized in N. This may not be the case everywhere (especially if there is a high clay content), but you really want something with just a HINT of texture. Anything more and you're looking at gravel sized pieces or larger.

I plan to use dirt from the neighborhood for the Colorado Midland.  I'll be taking it from near Cottonwood Creek where there is decent silt content.  Strain it, pass a magnet over it, then bake it.  Boom.  Got the right color too.

[Lemosteam]

But  Dr., the magnet wont pick up gold! 

Bruce, thanks for the info!

[Power Stroke]

I am trying the method used by LIRR because I have the items. 1st go around did not go so well, however, I think it was due to my impatience. I am giving it another shot.
If I think it passes the smell test, I'll post pics for critique. Thanks for the advice and pics.

[LIRR]

Give it another go. The best part of this method is if it you don't like it, paint right over it and try it again....
I took some close ups.......

[CodyO]

Nothing wrong with dirt from the back yard well in this case from by a creek

[mark dance]

Here is another method I use.
Stone dust is very fine and I used this sifted over diluted white glue with some alcohol added to release the surface tension.
Once dry I gave it a rub with a small block of wood then dusted on weathering powders to simulate dropped oil etc for my new construction company site. (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)
It seems to look okay.
Rod.

Rod: I really like the construction equipment lot! Where did you get the heavy forklift and scraper (oh and is the grader from GHQ?)

thx
md

[Santa Fe Guy]

Hi Mark
Thanks for your kind comments. I've been following your RR for some time. The large forklift is I believe a Tomy Japanese model. It comes fully assembled. It was slightly modified by a good mate. All of the other stuff is GHQ except of course the Tractor unit which is a brass cab on a brass chassis made by the same guy. He also did all of the signals on my RR.
Rod.

[Santa Fe Guy]

Mark
I believe this is the model before modifications.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Tomytec-N-Forklift-2-pack-p/tmx-3508.htm
Rod.

[loyalton]

Cheapo all-purpose sand from the garden center of the big box hardware stores is another choice. After choking on the dust while dumping bags of the stuff, I found the size is an unsorted mixture that goes from about an N scale ballast size down to very fine dust. No choice of colors; what I see around here is a light tan color, a common enough dry dirt color. The bags are usually dusty enough to get an idea of the color in any case. You could always mix in some colored grout if desired.

So how to separate out the fines from the coarser stuff when you don't have screens graded by size? Lay down a swath of cardboard or paper in the driveway or patio. Using a table fan set to medium or thereabouts, slowly pour out a small stream of sand in front of the fan. The finest dust obviously flies farthest and then you can pick out the size range you want. You will also have other sizes for various other layout uses. Holding up a whole 70 lb. bag of sand at once isn't recommended (just sayin'), nor will you need the whole bag.

[mark dance]

Mark
I believe this is the model before modifications.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Tomytec-N-Forklift-2-pack-p/tmx-3508.htm
Rod.

Thank you Rod ...I bought two before Christmas but the modification to the cab makes a huge difference!

Md

[Santa Fe Guy]

Mark Unfortunately my friend is going through some family issues at the moment. I will see if he can get his hands on some of the roof guards for you.
Rod.

[nkalanaga]

Loyalton:  That's what the wind does naturally in Pasco.  Using a fan would be simpler, if messy, because the sand would at least all be in the same neighborhood.

I use a combination of nylon window screen and a tea strainer to sift dirt when I need finer stuff.  Anything that goes through the window screen qualifies as a rock, and usually gets discarded.  The tea strainer produces material fine enough to qualify as dirt, if still granular, and the midgrade stuff can be used for filler, just like the mortar sand.