hi, i would like to know how to make tall grass in nscale. tips & tricks very welcome :tb-smile: thanks stevenb
You want to try Silflor: Scenic Express-Silflor® For high grass, it's the best! For that matter, all the products that this company sells are better than Woodland Scenics, IMHO. Here's a pic of a woodland stream I made for a OneTrak module:
Go to hobby store like Michaels, or hobby lobby, and pick up a swatch of fake fur. light color like white or tan so it can take on dyes and colors. Cut little "tuffs" from it, dye them to suit, glue it down, when it dries, brush it straight up, shape, cut, and groom to suit. Be sure to post a sign on your layout with the disclaimer that no ferrets were harmed in the planting of the field grass. lol
The Silfor recommended above certainly is great stuff, but very, very expensive. Fake fur or faux fur is good. For N scale the use of faux fur is pretty much limited to a fabric called "plush felt". I'd recommend getting the lightest color you can get unless there's one that really fits your needs. If you think it necessary, you can use latex or acrylic paint to paint the backing your primary earth color. Some people do that but I have not. In any case, it needs to be completely dry. Then very lightly spray the fur with "wet water". Using a color of your choice, and wearing exam type rubber gloves, put your fingers into a bit of the paint and very lightly drag it across the dampened fur. Work in areas perhaps 6" square. You can now rub the area with your hands spreading the color all through it. This will give a whole variation of shades of the same color. Very natural looking. If you want a more consistent color add more paint and work it in. There was a web site entitled "California Grassin", that thoroughly covered the process. It is apparently gone now. I believe the author published an article about it in Model Railroad Craftsman, but I don't know which issue. Try this scenery clinic for more info... Joe Fugate's Siskiyou Line: Forums / Scenery / FORUM CLINIC: Building realistic model railroad scenery I discovered that I did download some of the web site information and from it found that the original article was in the March 2005 Model Railroad Craftsman. It was only on the web site that he specifically addressed N scale (the article was in a HOn3 layout) and suggested the plush felt option. You could use the normal faux fur, but you'd probably need to use a beard trimmer to cut it down considerably for N scale. The only major problem with this is covering the edges. It's done either by using the aforementioned silfor, or by trimming material off the backing of the plush felt and gluing it around the edges. This completely hides the edge.
I use jute from untwisted rope and dyed with fabric color dye. Then I just glue it in place with white glue and trim to shape when dry. This grass still needs to be trimmed.
Pot topper Here is a link to an article dealing with pot toppersand tall grass. Model Railroader also had a Cody Grivino video displaying these. The video is on the MR website in the area available to magazine suscribers. http://ardleybridge.fotopic.net/c1501517_1.html
That looks really great Denny! That scene could pass close to where I live around the Bodfish-Caliente road near Tunnel 2.
After seeing Denny's pics I found these: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K-qWXJhRkU&feature=related"]YouTube Demo[/ame] Review on Trainboard by lashedup
I used mainly the same stuff, only I shake the GrasMaster horizontally (not vertically, like the guy in the video) and tap it with my finger to help the static grass falling up right in the glue. I also found that the 9V battery isn't enough and doesn't last very long: I just easily converted the GrasMaster and use it with a 9V DC general purpose power supply. Actually Joe Fugate demonstrates how to use it very well in his scenery howto video: The GrasMaster chapter is downloadable for few bucks, but the preview gives you a rough idea (needs QuickTime Player): http://model-trains-video.com/MTV-0012.php
Where would I buy the Grassmaster here in the U.S.? All the websites I've seen involve shipping overseas, and that's a bit much for me, honestly. However, I'd love to give this product a try.
These guys are one of the best sites for scenery supplies: http://www.sceneryexpress.com/products.asp?dept=1149 On sale now for "only" $189.98.... The good news is that it's cheaper than it was ~3 months ago, the bad news is that it's still way more than it was 2 years ago. -Gary
AAaaawww...come on Gary...It comes WITH a 9V battery INCLUDED! How can ya beat the price with a deal like that...huh?:tb-wink::tb-biggrin::tb-cool: .
You ain't kiddin'! I'm glad I bought mine a few years ago... The economics of this have spawned a few DIY versions too, which are worth looking into. (But Scenery Express is a great source for all things scenic.)
Try MaerklinShop von LokShop (German shop) and see if even with shipping you got a better price than scenicexpress.
I was lucky to get me a Gras-o-mat for €55.00. Works fantastic only problem is, they are hard to get. Only on occasion on Germanbay.de
Homemade Version I made my own Grassmaster using an electric flyswatter I purchased at Canadian Tire for 10 Dollars it works GREAT. Instead of the cup screen I used a Rubbermaid container and lid secured it with hot melt glue cut out part of the lid to hold the screening so it works like the Grassmaster. http://www.009.cd2.com/flyswat.htm
