Iam putting together my first africa diamora, could any one tell me how to get the ground to look sun baked? Thanks
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This is an easy project which looks great when done. The hardest part is finding the right dirt. it needs to have some clay in it which will make the "cracking" look better. I like the lighter, redder color for African scenes.
Build your base for your scene. Paint the part where the dirt will go with a thinned latex based paint. Oil base won't work because the dirt won't glue to it as well. I use a dark brown color.
Put in all the grasses, rock, stumps, etc. you want before doing the dirt work.
Mix water and Elmer's white glue about 50/50 and stir it well. Use that mixture to make mud with your dirt. You don't want it runny but not real stiff either.
Using a spatula, trowel, stick, hand, or whatever you want, apply the mud to the base. Don't make it perfectly flat for two reasons . . . first, the ground is usually not perfectly flat and the different levels add interest to the overall look. Second, the thicker the dirt the bigger the cracks when it dries. (remember that rule to plan where you want the bigger cracks).
After the ground level is sculpted like you want it but while the mud is still wet, sprinkle a light powdering of dirt onto the mud. Not too much . . . you just want the surface to look natural. I use dirt sifted through a window screen for this.
Situate the base so that the surface will dry quickly. In Texas, I just set it out in the sun. Up north you may need to put a heat lamp or fan on it.
The object is to dry the surface quickly. Then as the underneath part dries out it will crack just like sun baked earth.
It's easy and looks good.
Good luck!
Jerry S.