Static Grass and Grass Tufts

[brakeman618]

So I'm interested in learning something new and have been looking at static grass and grass tufts. I've seen different Youtube videos by people such as Luke Towan, Kathy Millatt, and others as to how this product is used both with and without an applicator. I've been looking at different brands such as Silflor, Woodland Scenics, Noch, Heki, Peco, and so on...

What I would like to do is find a brand, make my own tufts, and of course "plant" things on the layout. So what do you suggest? Any brand preference? Any suggestions/success without an applicator?

[SpaceMouse]

Any static grass applicator is better than no applicator. You can make one for under $10 using a Harbor Frieght electric flyswater.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAEmcqc-yIc

 

 

The best one, from what I can tell, sells for $29 on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/StaticGrassKing-Applicator-Homemade-ElectroStatic-Application/dp/B071W6L9Z8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526772498&sr=8-1&keywords=static+grass+applicator+kit&dpID=41HPwE0k1qL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[HO-Velo]

Made some super size tufts with my homemade applicator & Silflor static grass.  Made quite a few much larger than the ones in the attached photo, also ditched the parchment paper as the tufts come up off the bare metal cookie sheet just fine with a single edge razor blade.  Also like to start out the tufts with a light base layer of browish static grass before the greens, ala Lance Mindheim.

Like the Silfor pre-made tufts too.

did the bank of the canal with super size homemade tufts applied mosaic style and some pre-made tufts.  Cattails are Scenic Express pre-made.

Happy scenery making, regards, Peter

 

 

[7j43k]

Nice work, Peter.

I'm in the midst of doing just such work myself, and I'll be learning from you.

 

Ed

[MisterBeasley]

I did the static grass with a mixture of 6 or 8 different shades and lengths of Silflor static grass applied with a Gras-Tech applicator.  I added the tall grass manuall by pinching tufts of field grass and sticking it into small mounds of Aileen's Tacky Glue.

This scene also has boulders cast from the WS hydrocal mold of the same name, plus some talus sprinkled on and glued, a few twigs from my yard and a Moose.

[trevorsmith3489]

I use this to make tufts.

works really well!

https://www.war-world.co.uk/product.php/wws_war_pro_grass_box_smooth_case/?k=:::6556496:0

[rrebell]

Did the Harbor Freight bit. Worked great, so much so I passed on one of the most expencive unit on e-bay that I could get for $60 even though it listed for over $160.

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

OK I just bought a fly swatter from Harbor Freight for $3 and I am going to make my own applicator. Which grass products you recommend?

Anyway I watched the video link above and I must say that the video was pretty sad. Instead I am going to follow the instructions on this video made by Ken Patterson instead. It's much easier to follow along with.

https://youtu.be/lHxDH8PyAzA

[SpaceMouse]

Lone Wolf and Santa Fe

Anyway I watched the video link above and I must say that the video was pretty sad. Instead I am going to follow the instructions on this video made by Ken Patterson instead. It's much easier to follow along with.

I agree. I looked for that one but didn't see it. I figured the one above was better than none at all. Thanks for posting it. 

[NVSRR]

Luke Towan has a vid on making an applicator.  Not sure if kathy does but she has made herself a much smaller version.  

[gmpullman]

I like my Fly Swatter static grass applicator:

IMG_8051_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

Total cost, including batteries was about $9.00.

IMG_8053 by Edmund, on Flickr

My favorite grasses come from Silflor and I buy them at Scenic Express:

http://www.sceneryexpress.com/SilflorMiniNatur/departments/1040/

IMG_7802_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

The "tall" weeds are Woodland Scenics product. I drill about a 1/16" hole and use a large carpet needle with the eye ground down to make a "fork" and grip this in a pin vice. Center the filament in the fork, fold it over the eye, apply a dab of tacky cement, any kind of PVA, and push into the hole. The weeds in the photo still need a little trimming.

 

Thank You, Ed

 

[Mark R.]

There is a simple change you can make to the flyswatter version which will create a lot more static. Remove one resistor and replace the other resistor with a piece of wire. Much higher static charge for even better results ....

Hopefully the picture shows.

Mark.

[BNSF UP and others modeler]

All I can say is: watch more Luke Towan! His stuff is amazing!

[htgguy]

I have made tufts by applying drops of glue to non-stick aluminum foil, grounding the applicator to the foil, and spreading grass on the glue drops. It is easy to capture the excess for re-use. I have used WS, Noch, and Silfor. Prefer anything NOT WS as that is too consistent in color and length, whereas I have been more successful at acheiving a "random" look with the blends of the other brands.