Colliery "mud" - how to model it?

[DanielB]

Hi all,

 

I'm working on a new layout and am about at the tracklaying stage. Before I start, I wanted to try and nail down a method to represent the mud/coal dust/miscelaneous crud that made up most colliery yard surfaces. Here's a few links to Paul Barlett's site to show what I'm hoping to achieve:

 

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/bolsovercoalite/hb6daad2#hb6daad2

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/bolsovercoalite/h3b5ff369#h3b5ff369

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/bolsovercoalite/h2e65bae3#h2e65bae3

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/bolsovercoalite/h72ad5a7#h72ad5a7

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/bolsovercoalite/h1c7b906d#h1c7b906d

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/bolsovercoalite/ha4b6fc3#ha4b6fc3

 

I was thinking about maybe a mix of modge podge, sand and dark grey paint, but I'm not 100% sure, so I was hoping the folk here would have some suggestions?

 

I've tried the Chris Nevard method of Das clay over ballast, and whilst that's great for a dry scene, I want the layout I'm building to look like a wet and rainy day, so the ground would be more mud than ash.

[doilum]

You want the secret of making odgy podgy?

[Dr Gerbil-Fritters]

Ah, the coalite plant.... you'll be wanting to recreate the smell too!  

 

Amazing mix of tar, coal, and something else.  I swear you can sometimes still get a hint of it when you drive past on the M1

[Dickon]

I've successfully used garden topsoil sieved over dilute PVA glue. 'Dry' and 'wet' areas can be created by varying the dilution of the glue or by spraying water onto the 'wet' areas.

 

Edited March 13, 2020 by Dickon

[russ p]

How about polyfiller or equivalent mixed with a heavy dose of black powder paint and coated with neat PVA when dry 

[doilum]

1 hour ago, doilum said:

You want the secret of making odgy podgy?

It is a very fine material which has been washed out of the general coal waste. The best I found was the coal dust swept from the the floor of my parent's cellar. You will also need to experiment with creating areas of standing water and use different types of varnish to try and capture the "wet look". I like the idea of a top coat of PVA and intend to give it a go on my current experiment Frydale Workshops.

[Mark Saunders]

For many places it is more grey as it is stone rather than coal.

 

Crushed grey cat litter (unused) is my suggestion !

 

There is also the clumping variety that may work better ?

[Stubby47]

Gordon Gravett's book is quite good for mud:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Modelling-Grassland-Landscape-Detailing-Wildflowers/dp/190876306X

 

Usual disclaimers, but avid reader !

[9C85]

6 hours ago, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said:

Ah, the coalite plant.... you'll be wanting to recreate the smell too!  

 

Amazing mix of tar, coal, and something else.  I swear you can sometimes still get a hint of it when you drive past on the M1

If you drive through ''Bowzer" even now, you still get the runny eyes as well, and not in the sentimental sense

[Ruston]

7 hours ago, doilum said:

It is a very fine material which has been washed out of the general coal waste. The best I found was the coal dust swept from the the floor of my parent's cellar. You will also need to experiment with creating areas of standing water and use different types of varnish to try and capture the "wet look". I like the idea of a top coat of PVA and intend to give it a go on my current experiment Frydale Workshops.

A combination of Fryston and Wheldale?

[Alister_G]

Hi Daniel,

 

To achieve this effect I used stone dust from here http://www.miniaturebricks.com/bricks_wallingstone_specials/modelling_dust

 

 

The dust was mixed with some wood ash and rubbed into grey emulsion paint over a layer of cork.

 

Al.

[doilum]

16 hours ago, Ruston said:

A combination of Fryston and Wheldale?

Guilty as charged. All but three of my colliery locomotives have worked between these collieries.

[doilum]

15 hours ago, Alister_G said:

Hi Daniel,

 

To achieve this effect I used stone dust from here http://www.miniaturebricks.com/bricks_wallingstone_specials/modelling_dust

 

 

The dust was mixed with some wood ash and rubbed into grey emulsion paint over a layer of cork.

 

Al.

Very similar to Frydale. Wickes do almost fifty shades of grey in their matchpot range.

[toplink@()1989))((]

Hi Dan, I read somewhere how it had been done with a mixture of black and brown dry tile grout, sprayed with a water pva mix from a plant sprayer, I reckon some ipa in the mix would help too.

I worked on the chemicals side and when the wind is in the right (or wrong, depending on your opinion) direction I get all nostalgic .

 

Cheers, Pete. 

[maridunian]

Personally, I'd separate the shaping/texturing stage from the colouring stage. Neither are uniform in these pictures (or anywhere really). By separating these you'll have more control over the final appearance. 

 

Mike

[Ruston]

23 hours ago, toplink@()1989))(( said:

Hi Dan, I read somewhere how it had been done with a mixture of black and brown dry tile grout, sprayed with a water pva mix from a plant sprayer, I reckon some ipa in the mix would help too.

I worked on the chemicals side and when the wind is in the right (or wrong, depending on your opinion) direction I get all nostalgic .

 

Cheers, Pete. 

Seems like a waste of beer to me

[Regularity]

Lou Sassi’s recipe for “ground goop”, as used by Mike Confalone (who calls it “universal mud”). Bottom RH corner.

Celluclay (Paper Mache), brown latex paint and vermiculite (a soil additive used for planting). Mix to a very stiff consistency and apply it with fingers.

[DanielB]

On 13/03/2020 at 17:38, Alister_G said:

Hi Daniel,

 

To achieve this effect I used stone dust from here http://www.miniaturebricks.com/bricks_wallingstone_specials/modelling_dust

 

 

The dust was mixed with some wood ash and rubbed into grey emulsion paint over a layer of cork.

 

Al.

 

Cheers Al. I'm finally ready to start working on my layout again so I've just purchased 5 bags of it. Should last me a while.