How do you create an old dirt road?? (1 Viewer)

Desertkiwi

Desertkiwi

1st Lieutenant
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
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I have a quick question for some of you more experianced modelers.

I've started building my first WW2 dio, which includes a dirt road somewhere in war-torn Europe. The dio is based around some K&C figures and AV's.

There are some many diorama products out there, that I'm having trouble working out what materials would be best to achieve this.:confused:

Can anyone out there offer some simple advice, on what material/s and techniques I could use to get this road built??

Maybe there is already an existing "thread" out there about this subject?

If it helps, I'm familiar with "Woodland Scenic" products.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated !:D

Cheers!!
 
I used Celluclay, brown water-based acrylic paints, and sand and dirt from the garden, dried and sifted, for a diorama of a US halftrack in Europe, December 1944. While the Celluclay was still soft, I used the kit tires and tracks to make tread and tire marks, etc.

As an aside, this thread probably belongs in the Diorama section, rather than the Forum How-To.

Prost!
Brad
 
Thanks for posting Brad, thats great!!:D

Yeah now that you mention it ....I should have started the thread in the Dio section......not sure how to shift it into there though??
 
John's suggestion is a good one, and look at his threads here, too ;)

I'll recommend, too, looking here for Michael Miller's posts (mikemiller1955), he's put up a lot of his diorama work that comes to mind.

Prost!
Brad
 
Hi Michael! I would if I knew how, any suggestions? I am no computer whiz.:eek:
 
JohnReid said:
Hi Michael! I would if I knew how, any suggestions? I am no computer whiz.:eek:
Click to expand...

John...it's easy...

open the page of the thread you are trying to show us...so you can look at what you want us to see...

right click on the address on the top of the page...

the link will turn blue...

click on "copy"...

the link is now stored in your mouse...

left click on here and it will open again...

press "paste"...

it will print the exact page you just "copied" that you are referring to so your guests won't have to search for it...

the page I'm on right now...has this address...

http://www.treefrogtreasures.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20542

when you click on the link I posted above...it will take us directly to your work...

thank you.
 
John...

go to your website and find the page you are trying to show us...

100_8863.jpg



for example...

I put up a picture off a page off your website...

see the red circle at the top...

put your mouse arrow there...the mouse has a right and left clicker...

1) right click one time...
2) a small page will open that gives you the option to "copy"
3) left click on the word "copy"
4) the small page will disappear

the page address is now locked inside your mouse memory

4) right click one time on the Treefrog forum where you type your post
5) the small page will open again
6) left click the word "paste"
7) the address will now appear in the Treefrog post

the address will allow us to look at the exact page you want us to see...

good luck...
 
Desertkiwi said:
I have a quick question for some of you more experianced modelers.

I've started building my first WW2 dio, which includes a dirt road somewhere in war-torn Europe. The dio is based around some K&C figures and AV's.

There are some many diorama products out there, that I'm having trouble working out what materials would be best to achieve this.:confused:

Can anyone out there offer some simple advice, on what material/s and techniques I could use to get this road built??

Maybe there is already an existing "thread" out there about this subject?

If it helps, I'm familiar with "Woodland Scenic" products.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated !:D

Cheers!!
Click to expand...

Dear "DesertKiwi":

For "roads" on a diorama I usually use sand from a bag of "Sand box" sand. This can easily pass for a dirt road and it is easy to brush the sand around the figures with bases so as to cover the bases for a great realistic look. Otherwise, you can also get assorted fake dirt or ground material from a hobby shop that sells model railroad items.

Best regards, "Iron Brigade"
 
Personally, I'd stay away from any commecial "dirt" products. Come on now, you have nature right outside your door (why try to imitate it), and this could not be an easier process: the key is finding the right mix of sand/soil to achieve the look you want.

This is what I do. Mix white glue in a bowl with water, I never measure it, but, I guess it is about four parts water to one part glue; mix it thoroughly. It should be pretty watery. Now pour in your garden "dirt." I don't sift mine, because I like the surprises that nature provides. I'll pull out any large unnatural chunks. The mixture should be pretty thick (like sandy pudding), but if you find this difficult to work with, just add a little more water. It will take longer to dry, but should be just as solid. If you are covering a small area, you can use a large crappy fine art brush (like a 2 or 3), be sure you dont want this brush for anything else. I use the brush to scoop, drip, push, and blend the mixture. I just did a section of 12'x4", so I used a regular interior trim brush, 2" wide.

I recommend making your road at least 4" wide (which some balsa strips already come come in standard).

The dirt will obvioulsy settle to the bottom, while the white glue mixture keeps surfacing, so keep mixing while you apply to your base (I use balsa wood, beveled irregularly on the edges so it blends into the grass mat. Be sure to give complete coverage. If the dirt starts sliding off. Let what you have applied dry and do a second coat later. If as you apply the dirt, it looks too bumpy or hasn't blended...not to worry, just use a spray bottle filled with water on the still wet mixture. The dirt mixture will level and blend itself.

It takes about 24 hours to dry (sometime a little longer), but when it does, if you have used enough white glue, it will be rock solid. Now add roadside rocks, grass and other foliage, road-kill, whatever you like. If you want a strip of grass down the middle, the best way is to hand apply it once the dirt is dry. I have tried some other methods, but none were as successful. It is time consuming but worth it.

Oh...one last thing, while I am thinking of it: I find the color of the roadwork tends to be a bit darker after the glue mixture has dried to it. So if it looks too light out in the garden, try a sample first for color.

Good luck!
 
When I need sand...I rarely use the beach in front of my house...the golf course bunkers have a good quality clean sand...they let me take all I want...
 
mikemiller1955 said:
When I need sand...I rarely use the beach in front of my house...the golf course bunkers have a good quality clean sand...they let me take all I want...
Click to expand...

I've found Jersey beach sand to be extremely fine and relatively clean, especially at the top of the beach, where the dunes are. When I go down to Ocean City, I take a plastic jar along and fill it.

Your point is a good one, Mike, the bunker sand has probably been sifted and bagged for landscaping purposes. The sand I get at the beach is of similar fine grain. I do sift it, to remove the odd bit of shell here and there.

Prost!
Brad
 
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