Leaf Litter

[HuskyHoops]

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what to use to model fallen leaves on the forest floor? I'm trying to model late fall, where many leaves have fallen to the forest floor. I was thinking of various colors of ground foam, but can't seem to find any colors that would be suitable? Has anyone had any success with this?

[cmrproducts]

Joseph

I have used real leaves! uas a blender to chop them up as fine as needed and spread them around. Also dried tea also works well. Now for coloring the leaves I have not tried that but using Rit dye to color sceney materials is what I have used. Could also use spray paint after the leaf material is spread and glued in.

BOB H Clarion, PA

[BRAKIE]

Bob,What a excellent idea!I have one question.
Would you follow the same process as ground foam when you place it on the layout?
comment:This would make a excellant article in MR.Have you thought about this?

[cmrproducts]

Larry

Using dye for ground foam works but it will over time bleach out. I have made my own foam but using the blender is much too slow. For small quanties it will work but it does not cut it up fine enough. I use a bench grinder with a wire wheel attached. Use a shop vac attached the grinder to collect the material. I use the foam underlayment for rugs. It comes in many colors and is a little easier to run through the wire brush/grinder as it is only 1/2 inch thick. Cut it into strips about 2 inches wide and feed it into the grinder. Then make a 5 gallon pail full using the dye. This method was done many years ago in RMC magazine.

I have given some thought to doing an article but building the layout is so much more fun. I have lots of other short cuts I have developed over the years. When building a 25x75 foot layout you need to find all of the short cuts!

BOB H Clarion, PA

[BRAKIE]

Thank you Bob,I will give it a try.
Good luck on your layout.
Happy Railroading!