Modeling A Dirt Road Or Path

[Drew1125]

Now that I've giotten the Marksberry Feed Co. in its new home on the layout, I'm doing some of the surrounding scenery...I wanted to depict a dirt track running from the main road, around to the rear prtion of the structure...
I use sifted dirt for ground cover, but since I model in N scale, it tends to be rather coarse...not very well suited for a dirt road as is...
(the white area is where another structure will be)

 

[Drew1125]

I had read about this technique several years ago in MR, but had never tried it...
I bonded the sifted dirt with 50/50 white glue & water, & waited until it had dried thoroughly for 24 hrs...then I took a small piece of sand paper, & simply sanded a path into the dirt...

 

[Drew1125]

I think this worked pretty well...
Here's a view from a lower angle...

 

[Clerk]

That looks good Charlie. Now if you could make tire tracks??:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

 

[jmarksbery]

Looks Good

Thanks for the tip Charlie, good show. I to was wondering how to do that for N scale, I have used sandpaper for the lanes and then chalked the h--- out of it. Not bad, but yours looks great. I will try it. :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Catt]

If the dirt is thick enough you could run an N scale truck over it wikk just enough pressure to leave tracks.Once the dirt is dry you sand it and end looking like Charlie's great work but with tire tracks .

 

[shamus]

Very nice work once again Charlie.:thumb:
Shamus

 

[ezdays]

Gotta try it Charlie, thanks Looks natural.:thumb: :thumb:

 

[Ralph]

I'd say that turned out real well! Thanks for the tip Charlie!
Ralph

 

[pttom]

As usually well done. Thanks for the how to.:thumb:

 

[Ricardo Nortada]

Good work. It looks very real.

Where do you buy the dirt ???

 

[belg]

Charlie that looks great,the addition of tire ruts would just add another demention of detail. I been fooling around with sanded grout for my dirt and found a color that I like alot and am wondering how you got yours down in such a nice even fashion? I sprinkled mine with a small spoon and then wet the area, a little trowel work and viola'.The tire tracks are going to be the next challenge for me maybe a small piece of wood sanded with a notch spread far enough apart and then use it like sand paper.I'd love some other opinions and /or idea's.Pat

 

[Arlaghan]

Very nice! I think I might try this trick...

And that last photo is really great!

 

[Ty Rayles]

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Lighthorseman]

Originally posted by Charlie
...I use sifted dirt for ground cover, but since I model in N scale, it tends to be rather coarse...not very well suited for a dirt road as is...

Even as far up as O scale, I've noticed the exact same thing, Charlie. Even strained as finely as possible, dirt still seems to look like 1:1 dirt, not scale dirt.

This looks like a brilliant solution, and I can't wait to try it. Many thanks! :thumb:

 

[spitfire]

Looks great Charlie!!!!!!!!!

Val

 

[Drew1125]

Thanks everyone!
I appreciate all the comments!

 

[MasonJar]

As usual, just when I think I am having a problem with my next project, someone form The Gauge has the solution!

Thanks Charlie - I will be using this for my area around the team track and coal dealer.

Andrew

 

[ezdays]

Charlie,

I have a "dirt" road I made from sifted sawdust. It does appear a bit corse for N scale so I tried your idea on a part of it. What an improvement. It looks so much more to scale and more natural.

Your new grandson has a good teacher and role model. Thanks.

 

[Lemur]

Cool! I’ll have to give that a try. I was wondering how to do this as well.
Another problem I had was in one corner of my lay out I have a few archaeologists working on a site near the main line, but could not find any realistic looking dirt for them to be digging in. I ended up using some of the fine dust created while sanding down cork roadbed. On my budget, I try to find a use for everything! Nothing goes to waste.