"Latex Caulk vs. Latex with Silicone Caulk?" Topic

In the past, I've seen people mentioning using latex caulk for making roads, fields, etc., since it can be painted.

Lately though, it appears that some stores are carrying more of the latex with silicone caulk, and in looking at the product info, it is claimed that it can be painted too.

I was always under the impression that silicone couldn't be painted, so I'm curious if that is an error on the website, or if indeed it can be painted?

Presumably, if it can be painted, then it might be a better material, less prone to cracking over time, due to age, since it has the silicone mixed in with it. Perhaps that's why it is now seemingly more predominant, at least at Walmart. Sadly, looks like they've discontinued carrying the brown latex caulking too, according to their website, and store shelves, which is a shame.

I want to make some fields and roads.

Have any of you used the latex caulking with silicone in it, successfully?

How does it compare to just regular old latex caulking?

Maybe you'd try elastomeric compound: tougher and more flexible than caulking. It comes both in knife grade: smooth and with silica. You should be able to find it at your local paint store.

Traditionally, latex couldn't be painted either, unless you used latex based paint. Paint technology is so much better these days I guess.

I assure you it will take paint if you cover the surface with fine dirt ballast and or even medium dirt ballast with small rocks in it. (Ballast is just a model railroad name for basing material). After it dries and you shake off the loose stuff: paint away. I water down just a little a dark base color. Let that dry and dry brush lighter and lighter. Then if you want any grasses add them last. Been doing this for my figure bases and scenery for many many years.

Before all these recent TMP threads about caulk roads took off, I'd bought some tubes at Home Depot to experiment with to hold model trees to bases as a realistic and simple form of glue. Now I want to experiment on making some dirt roads as well.

What I bought, and I have no idea if this is the right material, or is paintable, or how it will react, is Polyblend Sanded (?? what would non-sanded be like?) Ceramic Tile Caulk, in Tobacco Brown. It's noted as "siliconized". It appears to be designed to be used as grouting material between tiles.

I wonder if it will end up drying too solid, inflexible, and hard to be used for road pieces?

Not sure whether the 'caulk' that I have seen in the UK compares with the range that is available in the US.

I am aware of three types

Silicone – the stuff that seals around the edges of sinks and baths. The most flexible and I could see how that would work. But expensive and resists paint

Mastic – the stuff that seals between windows and brickwork on the outside of houses. Flexible to a degree but pretty stiff. Can't imagine it being that flexible to conform to scenery. Acrylic and will take paint. Moderately expensive.

Decorators filler – the stuff used inside to fill the gaps between plaster walls and door frames or skirting boards. Cheap, paintable, flexible to a degree but again, but quite firm and stiff. Can't imagine it would conform to scenery well.

I see mention of products like DAP acrylic latex but when I search in the UK I only find it being shipped in from the US so it would be cheaper to buy ready made latex road sections.

Cheers,

Nigel