Just got finished doing some static grass and noticed I could get it to work without the ground, not as powerfull but worked fine. I did not know this would work but then the balloon method works so why not. This one was made with the two button flyswater instead of one if that makes any difference. I must say it was eaisier to do without the ground in the way all the time.
I've done that by accident before. Still sort of works but not nearly as good, and I noticed something is wrong pretty quickly. I use a Scooter Stick that throws a pretty serious spark though.
Huntington Junction - Freelance based on the B&O and C&O in coal country before the merger... doing it my way. Now working on phase 3. - Walt
For photos and more: http://www.wkhobbies.com/model-railroad/
I suspect the crazy dry winter air. Shuffle your feet a little and you might be able to raise that grass up with your fingertips?
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I see where Micro Mark is selling an economy battery powered static grass applicator for under $40. That's more in my price range for a tool I probably would use only once or twice. Any opinions on how well it works. I would be willing to spend that much for one if I was confident it worked well but I'm afraid it would a case of you get what you pay for.
mlehman I suspect the crazy dry winter air. Shuffle your feet a little and you might be able to raise that grass up with your fingertips?
I'm amazed at how much static electricity is created by sheet styrene. It collects pet hair and debris like a magnet. When I go to spray paint it I have to double and triple check the surface to make sure it hasn't grabbed something that I won't see until the paint dries.
Just curious as to if you apply the glue down between rocks if it woud work? I have one and have never tried it.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
wickman Just curious as to if you apply the glue down between rocks if it woud work? I have one and have never tried it.
rrebell wickman Just curious as to if you apply the glue down between rocks if it woud work? I have one and have never tried it. Thats just it, if you have to ground every drop, you can't get too fancy. Another note, if you just touch the ground, you get the full effect and you can then keep it away from the metal basket. Don't know why anyone would pay $150 or more fore one when $10 of materials works great and I didn't even soulder, just used connectors and mechanical faseners.
Thats just it, if you have to ground every drop, you can't get too fancy. Another note, if you just touch the ground, you get the full effect and you can then keep it away from the metal basket. Don't know why anyone would pay $150 or more fore one when $10 of materials works great and I didn't even soulder, just used connectors and mechanical faseners.
Thanks for the info, I'm going to have to try mine. Its not an expensive one but it does plug in the wall , not sure if I bought the correct length of material for it. Would you mind posting a pic of your results? Would be inspiring.
Lynn, results depend on the length of the fibers and how crazy you go with it. Here is a close-up view of the area I just finished. I used it mostly to get a bit of late summer wild grass up against the tracks and in clearings in the woods.
And here is more of a meadow look. I did this quite a while back but still haven't detailed the area and put water in the stream yet. Everyone has me convinced to build the next section of benchwork and expand the layout first.
My go-to static grass is Noch 2.5mm to 6mm blend. I add some 12mm to get an overgrown look and some shorter grass for a more groomed look. The short stuff is very easy to put down using my applicator but it looks kind of fake unless you are doing a groomed lawn. The long 12mm stuff wants to mat up in the mesh so harder to put down, but does give a nice wild look. Blending it seems to help.
I glue ground foam down first to give the static grass something to bite into and let it dry completely. Then brush on elmers thinned down a bit where the static grass needs to go. My guess is that it will bite into your ground goop pretty good without any additional foam. Between rocks should work as long as you can control where the glue is and get a good ground. You just have to experiment with it a bit.
rrebell, interested to see how yours turned out without the ground attached. It never gets that dry here but extreme low humidity might make a difference?
Walt you got excellent results. I'm going to have to try this first opportunity I get.
Also been experimenting a bit with blending, if you go back over and sprinkle ground foam in a dirt color and kinda brush it a bit so it goes down to the base of the fibers, it looks much more relistic. I use a blend of 4 and 6mm stuff. As for posting pics to this forum, I find it to be a major pain, maybe I will have to work on that.
jecorbettI see where Micro Mark is selling an economy battery powered static grass applicator for under $40. That's more in my price range for a tool I probably would use only once or twice. Any opinions on how well it works. I would be willing to spend that much for one if I was confident it worked well but I'm afraid it would a case of you get what you pay for.
That's a Grass Tech model. I have one and it works great.
I model in HO. I like the 4-mm grass from Silflor the best. I have several different colors and lengths and I blend them to get a more natural result.
Static grass is very easy to apply and I've gotten good results every time.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
rrebellJust got finished doing some static grass and noticed I could get it to work without the ground, not as powerfull but worked fine. I did not know this would work but then the balloon method works so why not. This one was made with the two button flyswater instead of one if that makes any difference. I must say it was eaisier to do without the ground in the way all the time.
Have you tried it without even turning on the electrostatic generator?
My theory is that the mesh basket forces the "grass" to align vertically because that's the only way for it to get out. The charge enhances this effect, but it's actually the mesh that aligns the strands and the charge polarizes the grass segments and keeps them that way.
The grass will lay flat if not charged. I find it hard to get the grass thru the mesh sometimes and just sprinkle it on, then the charge straigtens it all up. If you want to go the real cheap way, a balloon rubbed on your head will give enough static charge to straigten the fibers.
Good information, thanks.
Dug mine out and realized it is the battery type and of course nothing in our home uses the big flashlight batteries.
rrebellIf you want to go the real cheap way, a balloon rubbed on your head will give enough static charge to straigten the fibers.
This would make an excellent video. I propose that the entire Model Railroader staff take on a static grass project on the Milwaukee, Racine and Troy. Think of the whole gang rubbing balloons on their heads.
Your deadline is April 1st. Coming up soon.
MisterBeasley rrebell If you want to go the real cheap way, a balloon rubbed on your head will give enough static charge to straigten the fibers. This would make an excellent video. I propose that the entire Model Railroader staff take on a static grass project on the Milwaukee, Racine and Troy. Think of the whole gang rubbing balloons on their heads. Your deadline is April 1st. Coming up soon.
rrebell If you want to go the real cheap way, a balloon rubbed on your head will give enough static charge to straigten the fibers.
That would be something to see.
wickman MisterBeasley rrebell If you want to go the real cheap way, a balloon rubbed on your head will give enough static charge to straigten the fibers. This would make an excellent video. I propose that the entire Model Railroader staff take on a static grass project on the Milwaukee, Racine and Troy. Think of the whole gang rubbing balloons on their heads. Your deadline is April 1st. Coming up soon. That would be something to see
rrebell If you want to go the real cheap way, a balloon rubbed on your head will give enough static charge to straigten the fibers. This would make an excellent video. I propose that the entire Model Railroader staff take on a static grass project on the Milwaukee, Racine and Troy. Think of the whole gang rubbing balloons on their heads. Your deadline is April 1st. Coming up soon. That would be something to see
rrebell
If you want to go the real cheap way, a balloon rubbed on your head will give enough static charge to straigten the fibers.
I have a better idea from Howie Mandel, fast forward to 3:40
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
First time I've seen Howie with hair.
jecorbett mlehman I suspect the crazy dry winter air. Shuffle your feet a little and you might be able to raise that grass up with your fingertips? I'm amazed at how much static electricity is created by sheet styrene. It collects pet hair and debris like a magnet. When I go to spray paint it I have to double and triple check the surface to make sure it hasn't grabbed something that I won't see until the paint dries.
Not to go off topic, but... I have used "Static Guard", the aerosol for clothing to kill static on styrene. I spray a little on a wide soft paint brush and "dry brush" it on to the model. It doesn't seem to have any ill effect on the paint, and makes all the difference in the world. Dan
That is a good idea, back on subject, the conditions here are not such that there should be a natural static charge. Now I found out that the static charges work are there is a hiarcy of flows naturaly of electrons and the material we use plays into that. What we are doing is we are making the same connection that you make when you scuffle across a carpet and touch a doornob only we are creating the atmosphic effect with a devise. The ground of the magnatude we use is not neccisary but will intesify the effect. Next experiment is to remake the my bug zapper that dose not look to good (first attempt, works but is ugly) into one for really tight places.