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*** No reason not to use it - I've done it and it works.
However don't just lift from the garden and use.
It needs to be perfectly dried and seived afterwards to get rid of nasties. A wee while in the microwave + an hour in the oven also kills most organisms (and you too probably if you don't wait till the wife is out
).
apply it both before and after artificial stuff - very very sparingly/finely in the last bit to just "tone" and soften the overall look.
Don't mist it too much (if at all) after applying unless you want mud - you will lose the natural soft texture. Best to apply to a damp surface (perhaps weak glue/water mix) and just leave it. Also as Brian said use a neutral gray/brown base painted on under it...not too reddish, as most earth is quite pale/neutral in colour when dry. water based acrylic thinned with meths and water will flow on well and soak in a bit too, killing any smoothness which is waht you want. you could actually dust it straight onto the wet paint - that also works well.
if you are really brave at using the appliances grind it to the finest possible powder and also use as an overall layout weathering powder - after all blown dust is a major source of grime on everything around it and if you use a "basic layout tint" for this as a final weathering "toning layer" over all on the layout, its always very natural.
Richard
However don't just lift from the garden and use.
It needs to be perfectly dried and seived afterwards to get rid of nasties. A wee while in the microwave + an hour in the oven also kills most organisms (and you too probably if you don't wait till the wife is out
).apply it both before and after artificial stuff - very very sparingly/finely in the last bit to just "tone" and soften the overall look.
Don't mist it too much (if at all) after applying unless you want mud - you will lose the natural soft texture. Best to apply to a damp surface (perhaps weak glue/water mix) and just leave it. Also as Brian said use a neutral gray/brown base painted on under it...not too reddish, as most earth is quite pale/neutral in colour when dry. water based acrylic thinned with meths and water will flow on well and soak in a bit too, killing any smoothness which is waht you want. you could actually dust it straight onto the wet paint - that also works well.
if you are really brave at using the appliances grind it to the finest possible powder and also use as an overall layout weathering powder - after all blown dust is a major source of grime on everything around it and if you use a "basic layout tint" for this as a final weathering "toning layer" over all on the layout, its always very natural.
Richard
