There are two products one should look into for groundwork
in your next diorama or vignette. Both likely can be found in
an automotive parts store, machine shop or a supplier of
automotive/industrial/agricultural products.

They are:
1) Sand Blasting Sand (actually are super fine glass beads)
2) Oil Dry (used for soaking up spilled oil or other chemicals)

Both of these are in-scale for 1/35 or larger groundwork.

I bet you can get both items for free, heck, 2 or 3 oz. of each will
last longer than you think. Stores/shops usually have them
in large barrels - so they won't miss it if you take only a small
amount.

Paul

sounds interesting. What is the 'oil dry' like?

Thanks for the tips! I just looked up Oil Dry and it looks like an alternative to using cat litter. Is that the product you're referring to?

Michael

Yes, there are people who use Oil Dry as cat litter. From the looks of the
stuff it could very well be similar to the cheapo all-clay cat litter found anywhere.

But why buy a huge bag of litter if you only need 2 or 3 oz.?

The Oil Dry stuff I have in my hand has MANY different shapes and sizes of
pieces that can be used for rocks and such for dioramas and vignettes. I
cannot say weather all-clay cat litter has the same variety of "stones". But
I wouldn't be surprised if they're nearly identical products.

Paul

I'll certainly look into Oil Dry. I have a cat, but I don't use that type of cat litter and I've never wanted to buy a giant bag of it. I like the fact that it varies in size and is cheap!

Michael

I have a small bag of cat litter for that kind of stuff and by the looks of it I will have enough to make small rocks and medium sized rocks for at least another thirty years. Maybe I will put it in my will to some of you guys........ .......Al

Actually it is the same stuff. I used to make it a few years back. The difference is the cat litter has colored dye dropped on to it as it travels over a conveyer belt to be packaged. Also the product gets sprayed with scent at the same time. The dye and scent are strictly for humans....cats actually prefer the "oil dry".....or just plain ol' dirt.. When making the oil dry, the valves controlling the dye and scent are simply turned off.

Wow thanks, it's great to have insider knowledge like that!

Hmmm, I'd advise Caution with Sand Blasting Stuff.
I worked with this stuff 25 years ago, & still have scars...

I would NOT use it as dio-materials, there are better, less hazardous stuff you can use, such as fine aquarium sand from the pet shop.
I wouldn't use builders' sand or silver sand, both stain....

If you want to know what it can do, watch Tank Overhaul...
If you want to play, then Google Badger sandblaster. It can 'frost' glass very well.
Review here: http://philsworkbench.blogspot.com/2007/10/badger-mini-sandblaster.html

It is, by definition, fine grained, in the '000's & degrades to powder quickly,
Which could cause health & respiritory problems.

I don't know if it is directly carcinogenic, but it is often Aluminium Oxide or Sillicate based, & therefore certainly an irritant.

Used stuff is by definition contaminated, & is 'supposed' to be disposed of as industrial contaminated waste.

There are several sorts, Coarser grit-like stuff, in several grades, used for cutting, paint removal, surface prep, & 'Glas beads' for planishing & bead polishing, good for closing 'pores' in Aluminium, **

** That's AL-You-Min-iE-Um, not AL-OOm-in-um.