making a "plowed field"

[Anonymous]

i need some help on how to make a field looked plowed ,you know with all the dirt hoed up into net little rows any input would be great

[Anonymous]

Don't know what material you plan to use for the dirt but have you tried draging a fork through it?

[Noah Hofrichter]

Hey NJfrieght,

I just lay down some Woodland Senics dirt color ground foam, use a knife or something like that to make the furrows, then LIGHTLY coat it with water so it will accept the glue. Then add WS glue mixed with water in a 50:50 mixture, as if you were gluing down balast. If you add to much water or glue mixture at once, it can move the "dirt" around. It's basicly like securing balast[2c]

Hope this helps, Noah[swg][:)][:P][8D][swg]

[cacole]

Well, I can tell you what NOT to do -- don't buy the plowed field that is made in Germany and shown in the Walters catalog for an outrageous price. If you want to duplicate it, just get a cardboard box, strip off the covering on one side so the interior ridges are exposed, and paint it a dark brown color. They added glue or starch to the paint to stiffen the cardboard, but that's all it is. Unfortunately, you can't tell from the picture in the catalog what you are really getting. Although this product is sold as HO-scale, the cardboard ridges are more appropriate for O-scale.

[Anonymous]

I bought a box of the Faller assorted ground coverings. I scattered the earth colored material on the area of the field then took a toothpick and drew it tn parallel lines until I got the effect I wanted.

[mloik]

Another method would be to spread some spackling compound over the "field", then run a cheap comb through it.

Michael

[Anonymous]

I prefer "Coffee" yes, folgers straight from the can onto the field and one of those big fat ol' "Afro" combs (Afro is term used in 70's for very large Hair) to "Plow" the field then a spray of wet glue to hold everything in place. Just be sure to stick a tractor with a plow next to it or in a furrow to add to the effect.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
I prefer "Coffee" yes, folgers straight from the can...

Would that be fine, medium or course ground - regular or rich flavored? [:D] Just Joking

This sounds like a good idea for a lot of dirt applications. However being a coffee drinker I would probably dry out used grounds after making coffee.

[Eriediamond]

NJfreight, all the above ideas are great and and all but, on the lighter side, Get and HO scale John Deere B and a 2 bottom 14" trailer plow and go at it. Also the plow should have sod cutters in stalled for best results. Those neat little hoed up rows are called foroughs. Now of coarse you realize you will need a disc, drag, planter, corn picker , combine and the list goes on. Ain't farm'in fun[(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Jetrock]

Hmmm....as a pot-a-day coffee drinker, I have a large supply of used coffee grounds that may come into use to lower my layout's costs!! I've also been told that the tannin in coffee grounds can be used to dye plaster a dirt-brown color.

A hair pick might provide rows a bit too wide for some purposes, though--one of those cheap 29-cent "unbreakable" combs would provide finer rows for, say, a backyard garden. My layout is WWII-era and I want to reperesent at least one backyard "victory garden" in a residential area.

[n2mopac]

Depending if you want a freshly plowed field or one that has been drying for a few weeks (freshly plowed will be wetter and thus a darker color), I have done this using Woodland Scenics fine turf in soil (freshly plowed) or earth (dry) colors (or a mixture of the two). prepare the area, wet it with diluted white glue, sprinkle on a good layer of the foam, run a coarse comb through it lightly, then CAREFULLY wet it with rubbing alcohol, then spray on more diluted glue. looks great.
Ron

[Anonymous]

I am in the process of trying to do the same thing. I am using the corrugated package insert that holds standard light bulbs. I have painted it a brown color and will add woodland dirt to it today