Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

sidewalk chalk dirt?


Recommended Posts

So I just tried this out and I'm pretty happy with the results, (I don't have pics yet but will try and have them tomorrow) I ground up brown sidewalk chalk into rough dust, mixed Elmer' so school glue and water then painted the treed of my tires with the glue water, rolled the tires in the dust and had perfect muddy tires. Has anyone else done this? What we're your results?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used real mud on this muddy Jeep a few years ago. I took a clump of dirt from the garden and mixed it with water till it was about as thick as house paint, then flung it on the jeep with a 4" brush from about a foot away. I thinned some of the mud down with more water, then brushed it on the wheels and tires. I sprayed flat clear on it when it all dried. The chalk method sounds good, too. I've used it to weather model train cars.

Sam

post-4745-0-12981400-1422127416_thumb.jp

post-4745-0-11349200-1422127446_thumb.jp

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I use ground up sidewalk chalk for weathering my dioramas.It's a lot cheaper than those expensive powders and comes in a lot of colors.After applying the chalk dust I seal it with flat clear rattle can paint,Rsther than actually grind the chalk I use an 80 grit sanding stick.The chalk sticks to the stick so I brush it off with a brass brush into a container

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting technique, looks great. But it seems everything old is new again.

Model railroaders have been using sidewalk chalks for weathering and mud effects for more than 50 years. If you want to see some mind-blowingly realistic aging, look at RR and armor models.

This isn't quite right...

20128610740_Well%20weathered%20box%20car

Edited by Ace-Garageguy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

It's nice to have an open forum such as this for the exchange of ideas and techniques.I was inspired by the weathered models I had seen but never knew how it was done.I was never exposed to any military or railroad builders or their weathering techs during my 50+ years of model car building so this was all new territory for an old dog like me.

Many thanks to those more experienced for being willing to share their knowledge with the rest of us!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

MVC007F-vi.jpg

MVC006F-1-vi.jpg

MVC007F-vi.jpgTHi

This mud was done with Polly S weathering paint oddly called "Mud". The tires were done by literally driving them through a puddle of this paint. That left the sidewall detail totally random and got in all the tread.

This was a box art model and I was asked to do some mud weathering but not to over do it. So the same mud was used on the chassis and sides. The splash patterns coming from the wheel wells was done similar to Sam's technique, only I used an old toothbrush. I literally flicked the paint (fairly close) by running my finger across the brush bristles. The key is to do this and walk away. It's so tempting to try to touch it up etc, which will only ruin it.

I also wanted to point out something. Note the difference in mud color between Sam's Jeep and the 1:1 Nissan pickup. That's called regional dirt color. Think about where your model is supposed to be from... whether you get that East Coast light brown, dark rich soil or the red dirt of the west.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...