Fake Grass, what to use

[Anonymous]

Hello, im new at this train stuff and i am making a layout and i am wondering what is the best thing to use for grass? all i have now is plywood i need to start dressing it up can anyone help?

[selector]

If you want well-watered stuff (various shades of green) go with several shades of Woodland Scenics ground foam, or make your own. Just use water, pieces of foam rubber, some acrylic or enamel dye, and your blender...not someone "else's". Blend thoroughly, spread it out, and let it air dry.

If you want tufted and end-of-summer yellow grass and straw, used faux-fur and paint it a yellowish colour. Cut the "hairs" and embed them in carpenter's glue at trackside.

[hminky]

I have a web article about using faux fur for grass and all the layout construction on my 4x8 at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/4x8/





I model central California but I also cover making green grass in my faux fur article.

Thank you if you visit
Harold

[orsonroy]

If you're new to everything in the hobby, sick with fine ground foam by Woodland Scenics as a start. WS stuff is available everywhere, and it'll provide you with a reliable way to get started. Just don't get a single color! Real grass is rarely a nice, uniform color or texture in real life, especially around railroads, where most grass is around industrial or wilderness areas. Pay attention to the world around you to note color variations, and try to replicate that. Mixing, blending and fooling around with ground foam colors and textures isn't just OK, it's almost always necessary!

Once you get more comfortable with the basics (you might want to invest in the WS tutorial video, or at least look for the Joe Fugate scenery clinic thread on the main MR forum) you can progress on to the more "fancy" scenery techniques. Using static grass or fake fur for tall grasses is a great modeling resource (definitely check out the above link!), and isn't all that hard.

[nbrodar]

I use Woodland Scenics products. They are avalable everywhere. Be sure to vary the colors, and textures. Also check out, Realistic Model Railroad Scenery, by Dave Frary (20 years later, still the scenery bible) and Basic Scenery for Model Railroads, by Lou Sassi.

Nick Brodar