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Static Grass Applicator

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  • Member since
    October 2019
  • 28 posts
Static Grass Applicator
Posted by jpdriver on Thursday, April 30, 2020 11:29 AM

Anyone have experience with static grass applicators from various manufactuerers. Researching and found they range from $25.00 to $150.00. Not sure the advantage gained by paying for a high end one when all I want to do is stand the flock up on end. Thoughts?

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Thursday, April 30, 2020 12:06 PM

I followed Luke Towans video and it turned out very nice.
 
 
I have about $18 in mine.
 
 
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, April 30, 2020 12:20 PM

Here are my two and they both work great, the cost was $4.00 flyswatters and crap that I had around the house.

The second one I made to enable me to get closer in to structures and mountains. It was a big improvement for that reason. I may make a third with an even smaller (narrower) piece of ABS pipe to get even more control.

 

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    April 2013
  • 46 posts
Posted by chenxue on Thursday, April 30, 2020 1:12 PM

Jeez, $4 vs $150???   I know u get what u pay for, but... I thinl I'll just try and put one together!!Smile, Wink & Grin

Cid    (Memphis, Tennessee)

  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 723 posts
Posted by UNCLEBUTCH on Thursday, April 30, 2020 1:26 PM

I built one from a fly swatter, total cost lest then$10. Served me well for 3or4years, then it up and died.

At the same time; my'' go to''on line  hobby shop had the Woodland Scenics Static King on sale for $75 free shipping. I happened on some extra cash at the same time, so got it.

The Static King  preforms better then my home made unit, but if its $60 better, is your call

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, April 30, 2020 4:46 PM

I bought a Gras-Tech applicator for about $25.  It works fine.  It runs off 2 D-cell flashlight batteries.  I've had it for years, used it quite a lot, and it still works great.

And, it's still running on those original 2 D-cell flashlight batteries.

I like the Silflor static grass, mostly in the 4mm length but with a few bags of 6mm as well.  Get a good selection of colors, too, and note that a natural static grass area will look best if you use a mixture of lengths and colors.  I model in HO.  I find the 2mm grass from Woodland Scenics to be too short, and results in a fuzzy appearance rather than a grassy field.

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

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • 189 posts
Posted by Deane Johnson on Thursday, April 30, 2020 5:54 PM

I bought the Woodland Scenics.  I think it might also be the same as the Static King, not sure.  I really like it.  Better results than I was expecting.  I like the changable screen size.  

No experience with anything else, so I can't compare.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, April 30, 2020 5:58 PM

How does screen size relate to grass length?

I seem to be the only one in the forum who built there own and created a matted grass applicator. Crying

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, April 30, 2020 6:43 PM

chenxue

Jeez, $4 vs $150???   I know u get what u pay for, but... I thinl I'll just try and put one together!!Smile, Wink & Grin

 

There are "how to" videos on You-Tube.

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • 189 posts
Posted by Deane Johnson on Thursday, April 30, 2020 7:19 PM

BigDaddy

How does screen size relate to grass length?

I seem to be the only one in the forum who built there own and created a matted grass applicator. Crying

 

Woodland Scenics specifies the large disc for long grass and the smaller for the shorter lengths.  They also supply one with both small and large openings on one disc plus a divider for the bin so you can "plant" two different lengths at the same time.  I haven't tried that yet.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by trainnut1250 on Friday, May 1, 2020 12:17 AM

chenxue

Jeez, $4 vs $150???   I know u get what u pay for, but... I thinl I'll just try and put one together!!Smile, Wink & Grin

 

 

Exactly!! Why do you think there are so many build your own plans on the internet? Many of us didn't want to cough up the $$$ for the Noch applicator. Going back 15 years it was only Noch and it was expensive ($150ish) and had some problems depending on who you talked to...

Since then all kinds of manufacturers and inviduals have stepped in to fill the void and you have a range of options.

Woodland scenics finally jumped in with a system last year after waiting for the dust to settle..their new grasses and applicator fills in some holes in the Silflor/Noch/Hekki/Gforce 9 lines and gives us a pretty good set of options for grass lengths and colors.

I built my applicator from plans on the web for about $20. It works great and will zap spiders at 30 feet....

 

Guy 

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Friday, May 1, 2020 10:39 AM

Built a number of the fly swatter type, on one I didn't even soulder stuff and it still worked.

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