Hi all,
Just wondering what was the most economical and most realistic grass to apply. This can be any type except static as the applicator is way out of budget.
Thanks, HappyWarrior
Au contraire mon ami.
Behold the home made static grass applicator. Made from an electric fly swatter. Seven dollars to buy and seven minutes to build and it works great. Go on You-Tube and watch a video on how to make one.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Hey,
Is it possible to attach an alligator clip to a nail with volts from the rails and use a siv to sprinkle the static grass over?
You really need the higher voltage to make the grass stand up. And please don't use track voltage for anything but trains. It's just a bad habit to get into. If you use DCC, the modulated square wave will do nothing for static grass, anyway.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Woodland Scenics and Scenic Express both have a wide variety of different grass colors and textures. Bachman has come out with a line of scenic materials, but I'm not sure how extensive it is. Does seem reasonably priced. There are also other manufacturers available. Depending on the size of your layout, if you can buy the larger containers it costs less per ounce. (Small packets of a color you may not use to much of is justified.) Don't get all the same color and texture, mix them up. Look at nature, there is a wide variety.
An inexpensive substitute is if you can get some sawdust and some clothing dye, you can make your own. Again, don't make it all the same color. Get a green and yellow and vary the mix in your solution. The sawdust usually has some variety in its texture.
Have fun,
Richard
For tall grass and swamp grass, fake fur or real fur cut with a barber's thinning shears works. A little acryic paint will help the coloring. The secret is to not be careful in the thinning.
I remember an old thread about using Pot Stuffers at Michael's Crafts. They are used for potted plants. I've seen photos of people using them on there layout, and it looks very real.
I still need to pick some up now that I'm thinking about it.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Dave Frary put out a terrific book that covers the techniques described here and more. The book is "How to make realistic model railroad scenery" or something to that affect.
I have used Woodland Scenics grass to great effect. You can get a lot in the big shaker bottles.
one question guys, how tall will look the Static Grass from Woodland Scenics with a static grass aplicator? because I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or my applicator isn't working as expected but the grass it's very short when applied? Thanks....
Woodland Scenics grass flock only comes in one length, short! Check out Scenic Express for the best selection of static grass. They have grass flock from 2mm to 6.5mm long.
That said, there is a technique using static grass and a tacky glue to "stack" grass end to end and make tall overgrown field effects.
The easiest grass is static grass, IMO. Don't be put off by the cost of an applicator. Check Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine, issue #6 for an article on making a homemade static grass applicator.
Thanks! and does anyone have a picture of how the woodland scenics static grass would look if applied with static applicator? just to compare with mine!
I use Noch Static Grass, but it is all the same as far as I am concerned. Scale grass is pretty darn short and for that reason it is hard to see the real short stuff standing up. Here is a pic of what I hope will simulate range land in the foothills of Alberta. (Cattle still to come) Look at the rises towards the back and you can see the grass standing up.(click on photo twice for supersize) If you were to look at it in person at table level you would see it is all standing up like it should be. I also like to mix different styles and lengths before I sprinkle, after all even in a lawn there can be different kinds of grass.
I think the longest length I have in this photo is 6mm. Different lengths are also in the mix though, just as in the real world. It is waste high on my little ranchers.
You need to use the silfor or Noch to get taller static grass. Here is a mix of Silflor appied with a home built applicator.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
trainnut1250 You need to use the silfor or Noch to get taller static grass. Here is a mix of Silflor appied with a home built applicator. Guy
I saw in another post from you were you say that you also use G Force nine static grass, can you tell me if this one comes in different long or there is only one? I may find this brand in my country and I want your opinion. thanks
Fondo,
I use Silflor and Noch for the taller stuff and g-force and Woodland scenics for the short stuff. The WS wasn't the right colors so I tried G-force. The g-force arid grass and winter dead colors are good for CA scenes that I model. In the photo I posted above (with the cow) I started with WS as a base and then sprayed it the proper yellow. I then added silfor on top of it and ended up with the result you see there. I started using the g-force because spraying the WS was a pain. I have only found the G-force in short lengths.
In this shot, the foreground grass uses g-force with silfor taller grass applied over it. I like the look of combining the different lengths of grasses. My normal palette of grasses includes Several shades of Silflor, and Noch in the 6.5, 6 and 4 mm lengths and then a couple of shades of g-force for the short stuff. If WS would make some better colors I would use it because it is cheaper by a large factor.
BTW: I have tried most of the other methods out there. The static grass is by far the best looking and easiest to apply for the type of grass that I want to model. While the grass can be expensive the applicator can made cheaply. I recommend using the negative Ion generator with a wall wart version. Works great and doesn't eat batteries...
Good luck with the project,
fondo Thanks! and does anyone have a picture of how the woodland scenics static grass would look if applied with static applicator? just to compare with mine!
I can do better than that. Check the article, Static Grass Times Three, from issue #6 of Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine. There is a video comparing three home built applicators applying static grass. it is the Woodland Scenics flock that is being applied.
Here's a picture of the first test application I did after building my applicator. I have been more than pleased with it.
I posted a little about building mine, and the early results here:
http://look4trains.com/2011/04/zap.html
If you are at all interested in static grass I would encourage you to consider an applicator. They don't have to cost a lot of money.
Jim
Visit look4trains.com
htgguy what static grass did you use in that picture?
Woodland Scenics-I think it was this color:
http://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/Item/FL635/page/1
This stuff is too uniform, I have also used some mixed stuff from Noch that looks better to my eye.
Ok, here is my first try. Static Grass Aplicator: Flywatter following this article - Static Grass: Woodland Scenics FL634
Here are two pics but I think they are not very good, and I thought WS static grass would be more taller. I'm thinking if my applicator isn't working properly? Also I don't get in my country longer grass to test, I will have to order it and wait
what are your opinions, is my applicator working right? is that all the taller grass I can get with the WS FL634?
Looks to me like it is working. The grass is standing up. I agree on the WS grass or flock, taller would be better. That's why I have used some Noch-you can get longer stuff. It needs to be random, with mixed colors and lengths in my opinion. I dump some of everything I have in when I'm using it now, and shake it up good to get a variety.
fondo Ok, here is my first try. Static Grass Aplicator: Flywatter following this article - Static Grass: Woodland Scenics FL634 Here are two pics but I think they are not very good, and I thought WS static grass would be more taller. I'm thinking if my applicator isn't working properly? Also I don't get in my country longer grass to test, I will have to order it and wait what are your opinions, is my applicator working right? is that all the taller grass I can get with the WS FL634?
I agree with what people are telling you so far about finding a way to use the static grass. There is also a less publicized product available from Scenic Express called "Grass Fiber" made by Heki. This is a loose gauze impregnated with static grass. You can pull, stretch, and cut it to shape. It's economical for medium size areas and looks great.
The two best colors are HK 1576 and HK1577 :
http://www.sceneryexpress.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HK1576
In the photo of my layout in the link below the grass fiber is placed around the white building on the left.
http://www.lancemindheim.com/behind_miami_waste_paper.htm
Lance
Visit Miami's Downtown Spur at: www.lancemindheim.com
HoosierLine ...... In the photo of my layout in the link below the grass fiber is placed around the white building on the left. http://www.lancemindheim.com/behind_miami_waste_paper.htm Lance Visit Miami's Downtown Spur at: www.lancemindheim.com
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Lance great layout!!! nice details and very realistic! I'll take some ideas from your photos