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Pot toppers - from an article in the latest MR

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  • Member since
    June 2008
  • 136 posts
Posted by MichaelWinicki on Saturday, August 7, 2010 9:27 PM

 If someone doesn't want to mess with an electric or battery powered static grass applicator (as a reason to use Pot Toppers as opposed to static grass) why not just use a Noch "puffer" http://www.sceneryexpress.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NH08100 ?

 I've used one in places on my layout and the results are more than acceptable.  

There is a very good selection of static grasses now available in a variety of lengths and colors. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 297 posts
Posted by markie97 on Saturday, August 7, 2010 9:40 PM

Not sure why you would want to use the pottoppers when Heki and Noch offer grass mats in a variety of colors??

Mark

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Fruita, CO
  • 541 posts
Posted by slammin on Sunday, August 8, 2010 9:03 AM

My local Micheals stocks pot toppers, but they weren't as lush as the photos in this thread. I bought a 6" one and will give it a try, but I'm not impressed by the looks.

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Dover, DE
  • 1,313 posts
Posted by hminky on Sunday, August 8, 2010 9:32 AM

slammin

My local Micheals stocks pot toppers, but they weren't as lush as the photos in this thread. I bought a 6" one and will give it a try, but I'm not impressed by the looks.

 

Mine didn't look like the ones in all the articles. Guess I will stick with:

Harold

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,368 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Sunday, August 8, 2010 1:01 PM

There seems to be quite a bit of variance with the toppers. Like I said before, I bought two 6" and two 4" toppers. The 6" ones seem a bit lumpier, lighter, and less filled in than the 4" ones, which are darker, flat, and very full. They all look great to me, though!Big Smile

_________________________________________________________________

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Mankato MN
  • 1,358 posts
Posted by secondhandmodeler on Sunday, August 8, 2010 7:27 PM

I just bought one six inch pot toppper to see what's what.  I could see using this in areas that I want some tall scrubby grass.  I cut the backing off of it to lay it flat, then I'll break it up to plant it.  The reason to try this is the fact that it costs $3.  Use a coupon and you're in business.  Would I buy a ton of it, no, but it fits in with trying to vary the products I use. It's also available locally instead having to order online like almost every other scenery product I use.

Corey
  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,879 posts
Posted by YoHo1975 on Monday, August 9, 2010 12:28 PM
The reason you use the pot topper is because it's $2 for the 4" and $3 for the 6" whereas Noch and Heki products are hobby products that are more expensive.

Plus, as far as I'm concerned, it's always better to use found products that I can buy at a regular store rather than specialty products. It's part of the hobby to do that.

Also, I don't see this as a replacement for fake fur grass. It's a different type of grass being modeled. I think both are very critical to correct look.

Well, I drove down to Tualatin Michael's on Saturday and sure enough, they had them. I bought 5 4" toppers as I thought that was a better deal than 3 6" toppers. I played around with one during our open house at the club. I already like it I agree witht he blending in of the ground foam. I plan to try that. The base is just a bit to "large scale" to look right without it. .

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • 1,879 posts
Posted by YoHo1975 on Thursday, August 12, 2010 1:26 AM

 I planted an area on the club layout with 3 of the 4" toppers.I ripped the toppers apart and then pieced them together like a puzzle. I glued them down with tacky glue. I then went back with some WS fine turf in a lighter green and brown and shook that on and used a brush to get it down between the grass blades. Finally I used more WS turf to build up the edges so they looked like a natural transition.

 

It's not perfect yet, but so far I like the results. I'll post a picture when I'm at the club friday as the glue will have dried.

I liked that the seams looked like spots where the grass was naturally thin, though that takes some skill to not make it look too much like a pattern.

I also experimented with some medium ground foam mixed in, but I didn't like it. I'm hoping it vacuums off. If not, eh, it was just an expriment and still better than what was there. 

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