easy textured dirt tracks
Can you give me any tips for creating realistic muddy tracks for a farmyard? I’ve tried scatter material but it never looks right and usually involves lots of mess. James Barnes, Cardiff
George says: Textured acrylic paints offer a quick and easy solution to creating realistic ground cover, especially for farm tracks and yards. Tamiya and Wilder offer a range of suitable brown shades, which can be combined for authentic tonal variation. These paints require a thorough stir before use and application is best with a flat brush. Build up a number of layers until the desired amount of ‘grit’ is achieved, allowing each layer to dry in turn, which should take about an hour, depending on the thickness. By adding several layers, or sculpting the medium into piles, we can avoid an overly flat appearance and replicate the look of a heavily rutted track. Another tip is to run a suitable model car, tractor or truck over the wet paint to create tyre tracks. The model can then be cleaned with water if necessary. We can also create our own textured paints by mixing dry weathering powders with acrylic paints, choosing suitable shades of each to produce the desired colours. If the mixture becomes too thick to brush effectively, simply dilute it with acrylic thinners or water. Puddles or a wet look can be achieved by adding patches of clear gloss varnish to strategic areas. Web: www.scalemodelshop.co.uk www.airbrushes.com