I have had a chance recently to experiment with Lou Sassi’s “Ground Goop”. The texture is somewhat coarse, and would definately be appropriate for scenes “in the wild”. It seems too coarse, however, for residential areas.
Has anyone tried any alternative formulations (maybe leaving out the vermiculite?) which would yield a much finer texture appropriate for surburbian yards?
LT
I use sawdust, because I have it. But I do not use Sassi’s formula, so I can’t say exactly how it would work. I have fair luck for under layment for ground foam, to use premixed drywall seam cement and arcrylic artist’s colors.
I am, this very afternoon, experimenting with goop. I used Joe Fugate’s mixture for my mountains and it was wonderful, but, like you, I find the vermiculite - even when it’s been seived extra-fine - makes it rather coarse for ground texture. Next I’m going to try replacing the vermiculite with real ballast from the local bunker, seived fine and de-magnetised.
So I’ll be using cement, plaster, real ballast, water and some grey and brown paint to taste. This is for a train yard, rather than a back yard, and I’m wondering in this instance whether I should ballast the track first, then mix up the goop to match the colour of the ballast, as the yards around here are fairly uniform in colour right across the whole expanse.
I use ground goop alot. I have used vermiculite in the past but have switched to sawdust, since i have access to a free supply. The sawdust lets you vary the texture by sifting the sawdust to seperate the larger pieces to get a finer dust. A little extra moisture (alcohol and water mix) from a spray bottle during application let’s you smooth it out better.
Larry