Mud Question / opinion

[FurandFin]

When creating mud bases for customer pieces i use potting soil and Elmer's glue which works out fine but now have a competition base to make and need some advice. There will be a old weathered duck box lying horizontally inside the base submerged in mud cut to show only 1/4 of the front face exposed above surface. It will be surrounded by cattails & grass with a otter standing on top peeping over. Being a comp piece I'm not sure my old method is best. It needs to be firm enough to support the insertion of vegetation. I noted a reply George once posted about foam and Black Lacquer paint, i really like that idea but the mud needs to be a marsh black, will that method yield a gray or black color when dry? What would be a recommendation on the best method?
Second question is it acceptable for cat tails to grow directly out of the mud or more realistic out of water, I know thats a crazy question and i may be trying to over think this thing.

[George Roof]

I use it for all my muskrat dioramas.  Trust me, it looks exactly like Delaware Bay marsh mud.  Mix it 1/2 fl.oz. each part with about 3cc's of black lacquer to see the color and add black to intensive the shade.  The lacquer slows the foam down a LOT, so don't get in a hurry and touch it or you'll leave fingerprints.  It stays flexible to some degree for almost 8-10 hours.

[FurandFin]

Thanks George thats exactly what i will do, I may post a pic when it done. Thanks again