I am currently working on scenicing my 22" x 78" switching layout and bought a couple packages of WS Field grass. To "plant" it, I drilled holes and laid the grass across the hole, and pressed it in using a screwdriver. The only problem is I get loose strands everywhere, and I have to drill big holes to get the grass in (and the tool back out). How do other people "plant" this stuff? It looks nice when I get it right, but when wrong, it looks like a cat started shedding on my layout. Thanks in advance fro any help.
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
I use faux fur and make clumps by inserting the strands into glue puddles.
Unplanted clumps
Visit:
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/grass_clumps/
Thank you if you visit
Harold
My scenery base is pink extruded foam with a layer of colored sculptamold on top. If you're using hardshell or some other scenery base, my method may not work for you. I make a planting tool out of a darning needle (one that has a large eye) with the end of the eye removed, which makes it into a two-tined fork. The "pointy" end of the needle I glue into a short length of dowel. With my tool ready, I grab a small pinch of field grass fibers, place them into the eye of the tool, then press it down through the sculptamold crust of scenery and into the foam. You can control the height of the grass by how deep you push the tool. If you end up with the grass too tall, you can trim with scissors and vacuum up the loose pieces. When you pull the tool out, the grass stays in place. If left undisturbed, the grass should stay planted, but you can also try placing a drop or two of diluted white glue at the base of each planting. This method is still a little tedious, but it's easier and neater than your current method, which I have also tried.
Good Luck!
Tom
I did not try making a tool specifically for it. While my base is actually a hollowcore door, I think the tool was the main issue. Every clump I tried to press in split at the tool point, and only the tool went into the hole. This definitely sounds neater than what I was doing.
I use Lou Sassi's method:
I use paper dinner plates for the glue puddle and also cut the field grass over them to keep the grass from getting all over.
Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
In a demo by the Woodland Scenics folks, what he did was apply WS Hob-e-tac (spelling?) to the ground, grabbed some of the field grass out of the package, twisted the ends together and stuck that directly into the Hob-e-tac, with the other hand he used sissors and cut to the proper height.
Scenery Express has a newer product that IMO looks a little better and may be easier to apply.
http://www.sceneryexpress.com/products.asp?dept=1056
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Mike is quite correct, MicroMark's Field Grass Planter makes the job dramatically quicker, easier and far less wasteful of product. I've been using one of these for years. The catalog number of the tool is 81751, with a price of $5.95 .
CNJ831
nbrodartacky glue
What brand of glue do you use?
Bob
Photobucket Albums:NPBL - 2008 The BeginningNPBL - 2009 Phase INPBL - 2010 Downtown
rclangernbrodartacky glue What brand of glue do you use?
The AC Moore brand.