Something I've found that works great for sifting that nets really powdery fines are Tide laundry bags, available at Walmart for around $3-4.  I sifted gravel fines from my prototype, first through kitchen strainers and then the laundry bag, and ended up with material fine enough to represent the hard-packed surfaces around my prototype's enginehouse.  Enlarged enough to see the detail, the photo of the completed scene is too big to insert here, but you can see it at http://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/8-30-2012-update/CB_2012_08_30_10?full=1 .  The sifted dirt was used to bury the enginehouse and RIP tracks around the ARMN reefer.

The coarse sand can be used as talus at the bottom of rock faces or in stream beds. Also, I use Paul Scoles method of basic ground cover using paver sand (it looks better under everything than flat foam does) and some of the stuff you call coarse can go into that as well.

Doesn't the paver sand have a binder in it? When you wet it it gets hard?

Had a patio done this fall and they used a sand binder between the paver stones. Just wondering.

Bernd

The bag I got had been sitting outdoors for who knows how long in the garden area of the Home Depot, here in the soggy state of Washington.  Even though it comes in a plastic bag, there was dampness inside, but the product was nice and loose, not clumpy.  So I don't believe that there is any sort of water activated binder in it.  When you use it to set pavers it is supposed to allow drainage, yet pack firmly to keep the pavers from shifting.  At least that what I gather from watching "Home Time" on public television...

I have used paver sand for dirt/gravel roads with great success. I bought mine from a local brick paver/landscape dealer. I have attached pictures of what I used to sift the material into 4 different sizes of dirt. Also some pictures of what it looked like after I made my roads. The first picture shows the strainers - the large round one with the handle is a grease spatter filter for skillets. I got it from Meijer,usually there are two different sizes together, but other stores should have them. The one with the black frame is a permanent coffee filter (super fine mesh). The cap is for a Ball canning jar. I cut a piece out of the large strainer & cut it round to fit the lid. The other one is a standard tea strainer.

Richard - Superintendent CNW - Peninsula Div. RR

http://mrhmag.com/blog/richard_harden

That is one nice assortment of sorting sieves!  I may hit the sewing store and look for a small embroidery hoop for the screen that you cut out of the spatter shield.  It would give a nice wall and keep any material from working its way under the sides of the screen.