I have been trying to make some realistic looking mud and am having problems. I mixed dry black dirt with white elmers glue to a dough consistancy and spread it out on my barn board. I used very little water with the glue. The mud looked great when I put it on, but now it is all cracked up and looks bad. A little cracking would look nicee put this is too bad. Any suggestions for eliminating the problem? Thanks
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For muddy mud that will keep it's wet look forever, use peat moss and resin.
The resin smell will go away after aprox. 2-3 weeks.
John
I keep real dirt dried in the shop year round for mud scenes, and I have found out through the years using it and elmers glue is you have to make sure the surface you are spreading it on isn't very porous and dry. If it is, the moisture in your mix will wick out very fast, thus causing the cracking. I have had that problem and had to go back everytime and fill the cracks in. If you seal the surface first with a thin layer of glue or ultra seal, you shouldn't have this problem. Also make sure when the scene is set to dry that it not real hot in your shop or near any vents so it will dry slowly. I haven't had one crack after doing these things. Hope this helps and enjoy. Also you should make sure the dirt is treated with an insecticide first before storing in the shop or where you are working. If it helps, I mix about 80% glue with 20% water.
Jim the scenery is already made. Fill in the cracks with glue, letit dry , or put dirt on it , let it dry then poor artificial water over it, just a thin layer.