What do you guys use for dirt?

[Scott1984]

Just wanted to get an idea of what folks are using for dirt scenery. I know some people use real dirt but that is a little hard to get right because we have snow on the ground and I do not feel like digging up frozen ground. I need to get something for my mine tunnels so I can eventually move forward. Thanks for the help!!

[ednadolski]

For N scale I like some of the AZRM powders and finer grade soils.   But by the time they fill an order, snow and frozen ground are not likely to be a concern.

Ed

[John]

Dirt from the yard or if you can get it from the area you are modeling  .. sifted and heated to 300+ degrees  -- I also will use a mixture of unsanded grout ..


The road is made from tan grout - very thin layer .. and fixed with cheap hair spray .. The other scenery materials are mostly woodland scenics ..

[Scottl]

I use sanded grout from Home Depot.  I bought a few colors in 1 lb tubs and they go a long way.  Wet it to adhere or sprinkle on paint.

[Scott1984]

Dirt from the yard or if you can get it from the area you are modeling  .. sifted and heated to 300+ degrees  -- I also will use a mixture of unsanded grout ..


The road is made from tan grout - very thin layer .. and fixed with cheap hair spray .. The other scenery materials are mostly woodland scenics ..


Thanks John!! I like the grout idea. No digging thru frozen ground.

[Scott1984]

Thanks Scott!! Looks like I am going to try the grout method. Appreciate the help.

[Philip H]

I’m an unsanded grout guy, with some AZRM products for road ruts and such.

[JeffB]

Just wanted to get an idea of what folks are using for dirt scenery. I know some people use real dirt but that is a little hard to get right because we have snow on the ground and I do not feel like digging up frozen ground. I need to get something for my mine tunnels so I can eventually move forward. Thanks for the help!!

Sand, with as little quartz in it as possible, found a good supply of such material years ago and filled a two gallon paint bucket with it.

For dirt roads, fine clay sifted to various grades.

Stopped using soil/dirt/loam from the yard because it's too dark when the glue dries.  Though I'm coming around to the technique military diorama modelers use, which is to just paint everything.

Would like to give un-sanded floor grout a shot...  All the examples I've seen of modelers using it look great.

Jeff

[Scott1984]

I’m an unsanded grout guy, with some AZRM products for road ruts and such.

Thanks Phillip!!!

[Scott1984]

Sand, with as little quartz in it as possible, found a good supply of such material years ago and filled a two gallon paint bucket with it.

For dirt roads, fine clay sifted to various grades.

Stopped using soil/dirt/loam from the yard because it's too dark when the glue dries.  Though I'm coming around to the technique military diorama modelers use, which is to just paint everything.

Would like to give un-sanded floor grout a shot...  All the examples I've seen of modelers using it look great.

Jeff

I have seen the military guys as well. Looks pretty good. I try a few techniques to see how it goes. Really appreciate your help!!

[rgengineoiler]

I use my own properties dirt as I live with in the red and tan stone canyons west of Loveland, Colorado.  I have dried and sifted this dirt over and over down to the smallest kitchen strainer their is and I
keep it in a tight lid 2 1/2 gallon bucket.  Now that I am switching to HOn3 out of N scale I have all I need for starting my new layout after I finish taking down my current layout.  The dirt was labor intensive
for sure and took plenty of patience but having it is worth it.  Many that I know do this with their own dirt also if it is the right color and blend that they want.  The tight screening also gets out bug parts.
Hope this helps.  DR   

[Scott1984]

I use my own properties dirt as I live with in the red and tan stone canyons west of Loveland, Colorado.  I have dried and sifted this dirt over and over down to the smallest kitchen strainer their is and I
keep it in a tight lid 2 1/2 gallon bucket.  Now that I am switching to HOn3 out of N scale I have all I need for starting my new layout after I finish taking down my current layout.  The dirt was labor intensive
for sure and took plenty of patience but having it is worth it.  Many that I know do this with their own dirt also if it is the right color and blend that they want.  The tight screening also gets out bug parts.
Hope this helps.  DR   

Thanks for that!! I think by the time i get to the top part of the layout, the dirt outside will be dry enough to use. Right now it is still muddy from rain and snow. We have a lot of clay in our soil here in Idaho so it is all very sticky when it is wet. I appreciate the help

[Dave V]

I use real dirt from the real locations I model on the RGS. And honestly, I need to go back to RGS country in the summer (after the snow melts) and get more.

Sifted with a very fine strainer (think of the kind you use for powdered sugar), de-magnitized, and baked in the oven.

[Scott1984]

Thanks Dave!! I am using grout right now in the underground mine area. Just wanted get going on the ground stuff so far it looks pretty good and it's pretty dark in there anyway. Looking forward to some dry dirt here in Idaho, maybe by april or so. We will see how it goes.Thanks!!

[NWP Dave]

My "5 Mile RR" is in the redwoods. I didn't think before moving to Wyoming to grab a bunch of extra dirt for my future layout. So when it was time to start my base scenery I realized I was way short of real redwood forest dirt. This was a real problem that was keeping my scenery progress moving forward. I had most of my redwood trees built but needed a base material to plant them in.

The solution (after 3 years) was bags of potting soil. Ground up and sifted was the texture and color I was looking for. A second sift for rougher material provides the forest floor debris along with crushed and sifted redwood needles I did bring with me. We have a couple of different brands of potting soil. Now I have one for forest floor base and another brand is lighter in color that I plan to use for the dirt roads.