3-D COAL PILES & SAND DUNES

Recipe for coal piles:

1) Start with a heterogeneous mix of sand and tiny stones. (Tube Sand is a good source).  Sift to select the fine stuff.

2) Put in a jar with a dark I/A mix.  Shake. Strain and spread out to let dry.

3) Pour into a pile.  Let it take its own shape to get a realistic angle of repose.  You may pour over a foam "core" to save material, but cover it entirely so as not to ruin the shape.

4) Spray lightly with wet water.

5) Dribble or spray with a 50-50 mix of water and white glue.  Soak thoroughly.

6) Let dry.  You will have a perfectly shaped coal pile. Sprinkle more "coal" around to blend.

Are you asking about making 'profile' boards??? The above method will work no matter the piles are flat on the ground or profile 'flat' piles.......

Yes AMCDAVE, I want to place it on the board and glue it to the wall.  Looking for a few good suggestions.

I have used this method for attaching items to my backdrop. if you have Run #255, you can check out my featured layout and possibly see a pic or two. 

I did this with scenery material, coarse ground foam in my case. It would also work for coal or sand. Cut a  0.125 inch "profile board" to the profile of the coal pile or sand dune. Paint the board an appropriate color and apply your coal or sand with a base coat of white glue and then let it dry. Apply more product and soak on some diluted white glue and let everything dry. Once dry, you can stand the board vertical and the product will not fall off.

You can now attach this to the wall or backdrop directly but what I like to do is to provide a spacer between the wall / backdrop (another 0.125 inch) to provide a bit of relief, it makes your piece stand out just a bit and looks a lot better than a direct attachment. Make sure these spacers are not visible.

Sorry for the long post, I write a lot.

Donald

Thanks 3rail, I have run 255 I think. Sounds like a plan.  How big of spacer did you use or does that depend on placement?

in this case size does not matter, as you noted it really depends on the situation. I would keep them small and fairly thin and down below the top. The whole idea is to pull your 3D background away from the 2D wall or backdrop just a little to provide a hint of a space and the eye will be fooled into thinking that there is more depth than is actually there. 

If you have space, I would then make some 3D mounds (truncated in half) and position them up against your other 3D backdrop, obviously, flat side against the vertical.

it is tough to see on my layout pics but this scenery principal was used along the back wall on the second level above the roundhouse.

i hope your area turns out nice, post some pics along the way.

Donald

I will do that.  I am going to landscape the outside of the layout all around before I try to lay more track.  That way I don't have to crawl over the track.  Thanks.

That makes a lot of sense, it is never fun to have to crawl or reach over the top of trackwork, etc. Do not forget about the ceiling too in case that is not finished!

Donald