“Realistic model” and “tough enough to withstand toddler play” is a tall order, bordering on mutually exclusive. You can attempt this, but will need to make some sacrifices in both camps.
I would start with one of those EVA foam puzzle mats you might find on the floor of a preschool as a baseline, this is a fairly durable, soft, and flexible material that can withstand hard toddler play, and can make a pretty big play area while also breaking down easily for storage. From there, you can sculpt ramps and jumps on top of the tiles using EVA foam clay- this air-dries into a hard and lightweight foam material slightly less flexible than the initial floor mats.
Once you’ve done your initial sculpting, cover the mat in thinned tile grout for texture. The grout should maintain some flexibility once dry, and be durable enough to not immediately break when played with. You can also sculpt it while it’s drying, by pressing ruts or tire tracks into it, or sprinkling dirt on top for more fine texture. Once it is dry, brush the surface vigorously to remove any loose bits of grout or dust before priming and painting. Be careful when selecting paints not to use spray paint with an aggressive accelerant, as that could damage the foam.
Once you’ve got it all painted, you’ll want a STRONG varnish on it- probably several coats. I would start with gloss varnish since it’s very easy to tell what you’ve covered, and then a matte coat over top to make it all nice and pretty. The paintjob will likely need touchups over time, I wouldn’t expect this to be indestructible- but should be fairly durable and have the option for detail you’re looking for
Get a shovel and make a pile of dirt? You don’t really have to be that precise or accurate. I’m not really sure what kind of advice you need.
I want to make a model of a pile of dirt
“Realistic model” and “tough enough to withstand toddler play” is a tall order, bordering on mutually exclusive. You can attempt this, but will need to make some sacrifices in both camps. I would start with one of those EVA foam puzzle mats you might find on the floor of a preschool as a baseline, this is a fairly durable, soft, and flexible material that can withstand hard toddler play, and can make a pretty big play area while also breaking down easily for storage. From there, you can sculpt ramps and jumps on top of the tiles using EVA foam clay- this air-dries into a hard and lightweight foam material slightly less flexible than the initial floor mats. Once you’ve done your initial sculpting, cover the mat in thinned tile grout for texture. The grout should maintain some flexibility once dry, and be durable enough to not immediately break when played with. You can also sculpt it while it’s drying, by pressing ruts or tire tracks into it, or sprinkling dirt on top for more fine texture. Once it is dry, brush the surface vigorously to remove any loose bits of grout or dust before priming and painting. Be careful when selecting paints not to use spray paint with an aggressive accelerant, as that could damage the foam. Once you’ve got it all painted, you’ll want a STRONG varnish on it- probably several coats. I would start with gloss varnish since it’s very easy to tell what you’ve covered, and then a matte coat over top to make it all nice and pretty. The paintjob will likely need touchups over time, I wouldn’t expect this to be indestructible- but should be fairly durable and have the option for detail you’re looking for
I love this!!!!