I would really like to appy some statis grass to my layout, but the applicators cost are from cheap to extremely expensive. I am hesitant to spend upwards to $150.00 on a device that would only be used a short time. Is there any advise from someone familiar with the available applicators.
$150 is a lot of money for something you might only use a few times, however, you could ask some friends to put in some cash, that way you and your friends could get better use out of one applicator?I know of a club that bought an applicator and all the members could take turns at using it when they needed.Additionally, you can build your own for about $20 or $30. If you type in "Static Grass Applicator" into YouTube you should find a few videos on making them yourself.I've made a couple before, just be sure to avoid the cheap Negative Ion Generators from China... they do work but only just! The best Negative Ion Generator to use is the 'IONB2 Module' from Oatley Electronics, it's actually sold specifically for making your own static grass applicator.Good luck and I hope you find what you're after
CheersLuke
David Leider showed how to build your own in an NMRA magazine article a few years back, and he sells them for just $40 last I knew. Check out page 5 of this issue of the Midwest Region Waybill for contact info
http://www.mwr-nmra.org/region/waybill/waybill20152summer.pdf
Dave Nelson
There are plenty of pages in the web showing how you can easily build your own static grass applicator using a cheap fly-swatter.
I am not sure how good the work, but before cashing out "$$$" on buying a Noch Grassmaster or other similar high-end products, it may be worth trying.
Or maybe you can find a place to rent one?
I have made two, both from $4.00 fly swatters. They both have worked really well even though they look like garbage. The first one I used for quite a while with batteries and then I wanted to see if I could up the power by using an adapter from my box full. I always keep the adapters from everything I throw out. It did work well with lower voltage adapters but I fried it at nine volts. A $4.00 experiment, no big deal.
As far as wiring them. When you open up the handle you will see two wires going out to the screen. Cut these and wire one to the screen on the container holding the grass and the other to a pin or nails you stick in the ground where you are sprinkling the grass.
Here is the first one that I fried. I just used a Ziplock sandwich container on it.
The MARK II.
Flyswatter handle, a piece of scrap ABS pipe left over from all those reno's the Wife makes me do ( I hate DYI TV ) and a bit of screen off something, held on with a hose clamp. This applicator is better than the last one because of the smaller end on it. It is much easier to get in around buildings and other things with the small end. The wiring is the same. One wire to the nail, the other to the screen. Like I said they both work(ed) great.
Some grass.
Pay no attention to the man and his dog taking a pee break at the elevator.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Built mine from a fly swatter and odd and ends laying around, cost about $7 not counting batteries. Works well, used a Tpin instead of nail,easy to push in, had to insulate the head to advoid sparks
There's an illustrated how-to HERE.
Wayne
Built two, both I put together with nuts and bolts and didn't even solder the conections. One turned out pretty and one ugly, both worked. Found out they work even without sticking the pin in, just touching is enough. Even got it to work without touching as long as the charge was built-up already (great for skip grasing on areas like center of dirt roads). Secret I found was not the static grass applicator but your selection and mixture of lengths and colors 4 and 6mm being the most usefull in HO, use 2mm mostly for fill as you want the area covered. Also I found it a bother and unneccisarry to runn the grass through a sifter on the machine, just put on the glue and spinkle the grass on (not too much so that the grass wont be able to stand up) and then use the machine till you get the look you want. Then after drying vacume up the loose stuff. Now there is a final step if you want ultra realisum and that is adding in your dirt color in spots (for me it is easy because I use zip texturing and just use a very soft paint brush to blend it in, too much, valcume it till you get the look and then mist with water).
I bought one of the low-cost Grass-Tech models.
If you don't feel like building one yourself, you can find these online for $25-30, which is what I paid for mine. It works very well.
I model in HO and I like the 4mm static grass from Silflor. I have a few different shades which I apply in small batches or mix together to vary the shade of the grass as it goes on the layout, giving a more natural mix.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I also opted for the Grass-Tech version.
Great for those who wish to not mess with redoing an electric flyswatter.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.