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Busch grass mat help!

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  • Member since
    July 2019
  • 5 posts
Busch grass mat help!
Posted by STLRAIL on Sunday, July 14, 2019 10:17 AM

Hey guys!

I just got back into the hobby after about 15 years, I'm currently working on a small switching layout in a spare bedroom. I am modeling a whole lot of weedy, unkempt track using a tecnique I found where you lay the track on top of grass mat.

My question is for those of you who have used the Busch grass mat before. It comes rolled up, and when you get to the grass on the inside of the roll, it's all pressed down and doesn't want to stand up straight anymore. Do you have any tips to restore this matted grass to its full upright position before it's installed?

 

Thanks!

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, July 15, 2019 4:52 PM

Welcome to the forum.  Your intial posts are delayed as you are under moderation.

I'm giving your post a bump up the list, but I don't have anything intelligent to add.  Maybe vaccuuming would straighten the grass, or not. 

Seems to me putting track on grass would create a lumpy track, but we just had a thread on bad track and it has it's fans.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, July 15, 2019 6:01 PM

Turf, ground foam and static grass gives you greater flexibility and generally better results.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 723 posts
Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Monday, July 15, 2019 6:52 PM

I have not used that product, so just thinking outloud;

If you just lef it lay for awhile and perhaps brush it ? or even mist it with water and then brushed.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 7:32 AM

I have done exactly what you are talkign about, and had good results.

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I trim away the parts that are pressed down and toss them into the trash. A little bit of loss is a fact of life.

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The Busch mats used to be shipped to hobby shops in flat boxes, and this was not a problem then.

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-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • From: Just outside of Leitchfield, Ky
  • 105 posts
Posted by mrrdad on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 9:58 AM

MisterBeasley

Turf, ground foam and static grass gives you greater flexibility and generally better results.

 

 

This!

 

We tried using it on my nephew's O scale layout. Never could get the turf roll stuff to look decent. It just looked like pressed down carpet!

Ed

Semi newbie HO scale modeler coming from the O scale world

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • 1,950 posts
Posted by NVSRR on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 12:10 PM

Lets figure the grass is glued with a water soluable adhiesive.  Some water applied to soft the glue and hair brush to tease it up.  Or an iron using the steaming feature and a hairbrush. Soften both the adhiesive and grass fibers.  Try a small patch and see.      There is always the teddy. BEar fur option

 

Wolfie

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, July 21, 2019 1:38 PM

mrrdad
We tried using it on my nephew's O scale layout. Never could get the turf roll stuff to look decent. It just looked like pressed down carpet!

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I experimented with Busch grass mat on the layout segment project today. I am happy with it.

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Look for a detailed update tonight.

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2019
  • 5 posts
Posted by STLRAIL on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 9:23 PM

Thanks for all the replies, adding some water and using an old brush seemed to work, but I just can't get the track to sit flat enough on the grass mat. Even weighted down it won't press all the way down. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have to make the track look like garbage using more traditional methods :( 

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, August 16, 2019 3:19 PM

You really need a flat, solid base for your track, too.  Putting it on top of a grass mat won't give you that.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Saturday, August 17, 2019 10:07 AM

Grass does not grow around the railroad tracks.

 

Build your layout first, and then put the grass in where it belongs.

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    November 2015
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Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Saturday, August 17, 2019 1:25 PM

BroadwayLion

Grass does not grow around the railroad tracks.

 

Build your layout first, and then put the grass in where it belongs.

 

ROAR

 

 Thats kinda my thinking,Get your track down and working. Then run the grass up to the ties. Maybe cut small tuffs to place between the ties.

 I thik you would be a mutch happier modeler

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