Best Way to Spread Turf?

[Jumijo]

I've been applying Woodland Scenic's course turf to my layout using either my fingers or by shaking the bottle it comes in. Neither work well for me. It tends to clump in some areas, or leave nothing in others. When I try to spread it evenly or press it down into the glue, it lifts. I want a more uniform layer of turf. What is the best way to apply this stuff, and also should I be using the finer turfs instead of the course style? Does that make a difference?

Jim

[cnw1995]

Jim, in my experience, the courser turf will clump -the finer turf - some of it is almost like sand - will spread much better. I've used a sieve from the kitchen to spread it out. Actually, I wanted clumps. I was putting shades of green over tan paint and wanted the uneveness. But maybe 'zip-texturing' would be better - using colored sawdust or the like. Maybe just painting would serve better. What is the effect you are looking for - like a lawn?

[Buckeye Riveter]

Jim,
I buy the worst looking flat brown paint to paint the base. I then start sprinkling about four types of Woodland Scenic grasses on to the sticky paint. The course grasses go on last and only in specific areas where I want to hide my mistakes. As you can imagine, I buy a ton of couse grass.[:D]

[railfan23]

The way that I did was something that I learned from the n-scale club I am in. We do use the Woodland Senic products, mostly the fine for our applacations. First we paint the area to be done completely with white glue (do small sections at a time so the glue does not start to get tacky before you can cover it with turf) . Next we just use the regular Woodland Senic shaker bottles and add the turf to the glue, letting it sit for approximate 5-10 minutes. The last step is to vaccum it up into a CLEAN cordless Dust Buster. By using a clean vaccum you can open it up, pour it back into the shaker and reuse it. Try this method out on a scrap piece of wood to see if this method and effect works for you.

[Anonymous]

I collected a stash of empty glass salsa jars and use them as shakers/dispensers. I punch holes of various sizes in the metal lids so I can dispense different grades of turf materials. Have used these jars--many of them, and with different colors or grades of foam in each--for years now.

I paint my "ground" an earth color with cheap, brown latex paint; spread a good thick layer of white glue over the dried surface; shake the turf materials on in a thoroughly random pattern; and vacuum-up the excess after everything has dried. I then go back and add more turf or fill in any holes, if necessary, right over the first layer using the same technique.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

I used a heavy coat of tan paint wood land senics grass and a flour sifter mixing light medium and dark green grass then cranking the sifter while the paint was still wet.

[Jumijo]

Not looking for a lawn, but a natural grassy look, like a meadow or a field.

I paint the area with a brown craft paint and let it dry. Then I brush on a layer of white glue. Now I want some areas of the brown to show through, but I also want good coverage. If I spread it with my hands, it clumps or balls up. Trying to disperse those clumps is next to impossible. I thought this step of scenery would go much quicker than it has.

I like the idea of vaccuming up the foam in a clean cordless vacumm for re-use. I also like Allan's idea of poking holes in a salsa jar. I've been using the shaker jar from WS (I also tried a parmissian cheese shaker). Both with limited sucess. Maybe I should switch to a finer foam turf.

Thank you all for your input. I greatly appreciate it!

Jim