I'm ready to paint the pink foam board that will hold my track and everything else. Was all ready to buy green paint to simulate grass but then had a second thought to paint it dark brown. Wouldn't that simulate the look of dirt? I'm gonna use grass and shrub products (Woodland Scenics, etc.) and wondered if the dark brown base might have a better look. Any thoughts? Thank you.
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Id use brown and while paint was wet, put ground cover
Dark brown or even black. If you use ground cover the black will look like shadows if there is a bald spot. either way good.
Some of the foam has a film of plastic. You'll want to peal it off before painting. I use flat brown latex paint.
Use a tan color water based latex. Wait until the paint is dry then sprinkle on your ground cover and rocks. Then do the wet water and diluted white glue.
I'd recommend a light tan or tannish gray for your base coat. Make sure it's FLAT. Not eggshell or satin or anything else with the least bit of sheen. Pretty much what Father.Dragon said, wait until it's dry then go to it with the ground cover, rocks, wet water, and diluted white glue trick. Note: you can turn on a fan to help speed up drying if desired.
Thanks for the feedback. I used a mat on my last layout and never really liked it. Have seen a couple of videos with green paint and they got me thinking of darker colors. Thanks again.
What I’m working on now.
Matte, flat, unless you want a wet look, then a gloss to match how wet.
Tan, brown, black, grey, red, off shades of darker green.
Where you are in the world the color will vary.
Within local topography the color will vary too.
Growing a birch tree and some pine? Sandy tan. Farming close by? Black/brown. Near water, stagnent; green black (rot) , fresh; any
etc. etc.
Red/brown? Clay, Alabama, Arkansas, etc.
Grey? rocky, stoney.
Very little earth is one color if you look close. Always mix a tiny, minuscule bit of other colors surronding each area. Looking close you won't notice but your subconcious mind does processes these colors as well before "counting" the lesser pigments as irrelevant.
Gilly@N&W posted:Some of the foam has a film of plastic. You'll want to peal it off before painting. I use flat brown latex paint.
Yes, make SURE you peel the film off! If you don't paint won't stick near as well to it. And it will peel off when things are moved after sitting a while.
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