I like the Silflor static grass. I tried the Woodland Scenic stuff, but it's only 2 mm and looks fuzzy rather than grass-like in HO.
I got 4 and 6 mm, and a few shades of each. I think it looks better if you combine colors and lengths, all at once in the same application. It goes a long way. I use a cheap Gras-Tech applicator and I really like the finished result.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I called a local(Illinois) train hobby shop Sunday and surprise, they answered. They said store is closed to public but they are doing much mail order business...FYI
At such time as we have train shows again (sigh) with luck Scenic Express itself will have a booth at the larger shows such as Milwaukee's Trainfest. They pack a large amount and variety of stuff into their display area (not just their own brand stuff) and I usually load up -- I make a list but they usually have stuff I had no notion existed so there is plenty of impulse buying as well.
Woodland Scenics usually has a booth at Trainfest as well but I do not recall if they sell or -- as is the case with most large manufacturers -- just display, but they also have live demos. Your chances of getting a free tree from them are enhanced if you bring a cute grandchild along by the way.
At your more typical swap meet type train show the scenery items can indeed be hit or miss. Indeed some guys are still trying to peddle some very brittle looking lichen.
Dave Nelson
Yes and static grass applicators can vary from cheap fly swatter types to the expensive Noch and others.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Yes, train shows are sometimes spotty for finding scenery deals. You def have to know the fair-market value to avoid over-spending on scenery. I have negotiated deals at train shows with vendors and they are often willing to make deals when I'm buying faulty things or items in bulk.
I would take aclook at scenic express. They the materials fromall the manufactures. Plus thier own. Wouldnt surprise me if once things open up, there will probably be wild discount sales to get money flowing again
Shane
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
riogrande5761 SeeYou190 As someone else mentioned, train shows are your best bet. Plot complication showing up on sensors now captain. Train shows are cancelled for months to come. Train shows can be a very good place to buy scenery products. Of course presently it could be a problem as most, if not all, train shows are cancelled probably until late summer or fall. So if one need scenery in the near term, mail order/online is going to probably have to suffice.
SeeYou190 As someone else mentioned, train shows are your best bet.
Plot complication showing up on sensors now captain. Train shows are cancelled for months to come.
Train shows can be a very good place to buy scenery products. Of course presently it could be a problem as most, if not all, train shows are cancelled probably until late summer or fall. So if one need scenery in the near term, mail order/online is going to probably have to suffice.
Train shows can be hit or miss for anything including scenery products but if you look hard enough you usually find what you want.
Joe Staten Island West
SeeYou190As someone else mentioned, train shows are your best bet.
riogrande5761I call modeltrainstuff and the guy I talked to was teleworking, but the warehouse is operating and they are shipping product. Apparently warehouse operations are exempt from the gov mandate.
Then I stand corrected. I got an email today from Mainline Hobby in PA and they said the store is closed by they are shipping.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
As someone else mentioned, train shows are your best bet.
I am amazed when I attend train shows, and I am never there when they open, and how much scenery supply is available for purchase when I show up. I went to the Scale Rails of Southwest Florida train show this year on day 2, and there was a fellow selling Woodland Scenics stuff for $2.00 a bag. I did not even look at what he had, I just bought it all.
This stuiff should have been gone 10 minutes after the door opened on Saturday. We all NEED terrain building supplies, why was it not snapped up?
Open bags at train shows can be had for $1.00 each most times. Buy all of them. The stuff in open bags is just as good, and having a bunch of colors avaialable for texture is always worth it.
I probably have four times as much scenery collected than I will ever need, but that is OK. It is always fun to sprinkle new terrain over the permanent terrain on the layout, pose some props, take a few pictures, and vacuum it up.
Also, as suggested, do not limit yourself to one line of product. I think I have everything Woodland Scenics makes, but the "flock and turf" mixtures by Scenic Express are also very good. Don't limit yourself to just specifically Model Railroading products. Stroll into a wargaming store and see what Citadel, Army Painter, and Gale Force 9 have to offer. There is some amazing variety in material out there.
Have fun.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
BigDaddy If Modeltrainstuff is following the governors orders, the are closed.
If Modeltrainstuff is following the governors orders, the are closed.
Just to find out for sure, I call modeltrainstuff and the guy I talked to was teleworking, but the warehouse is operating and they are shipping product. Apparently warehouse operations are exempt from the gov mandate.
I am working on mine, after much delay. I had accumulated a variety of Woodland Scenics products for experimanting on my grandson's layout a few years back. This week I got started on my layout and picked some basic items for most areas and needed to get some more of those enroute.
I checked with M.B. Klein, my go-to spot for most things, then EBay, for what I needed but only found some of what I wanted. Going to Woodland Scenics, all that I wanted was in stock so I ordered there. Prices might have been a bit higher but ok by me. I ordered yesterday at 2PM, got a notice that it was "shipped" (packed & labelled for pickup) that day, so it will be enroute today. Very convenient.
P.S. - I find having their booklet (Scenery Manual) handy to see the various materials types, colors, sizes available. But I see it is discontinued.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Look for he best price. I used to get some of my best prices at train shows.
Don't lock yourself into one brand. Woodland Scenics is fine, but they had a very poor selection of scenic grass, for example. Companies like Scenic Express have comparable products. Slight differences in shade or texture will actually result in more realistic scenery.
Hello everyone, i am in need of some scenery supplies and wondered if anyone on here could suggest the best place for a deal? I am used to using Woodland Scenics ground covers and clump foliages so thats pretty much what i am looking for. I have looked online but im not sure who would be best to deal with. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated....Thanks!....