The Little Rock Line

Nice instruction how you are making those Allen. Thanks for sharing. Tucking that info away for a possible future project.

 

Thanks Rich.
Please do...

 

Allen, these are the AK brand I mentioned. These are small ones I picked up today at the LHS for a possible project test. Still going to try your method at some point. The packs have about twice the amount the WS packs had.

 

OK, thanks for the pics Rich.
Those are 2mm and should work quite well for general scenery, around tracks and buildings and such.
They're also random shapes. Probably more fitting for use with most N scale scenes.
Using my method with 2-4mm would probably produce the same as those AK tufts.
May I ask what they sold for?

Mine are made from 6-7mm grass, but I wanted taller, deeper grasses for use around the bog. If you put mine against something with scale, they'd probably look out of place.

 

Hi Allen,
Don't mind at all, these packs were $12.95 each. That seems to be about the going rate online and what my LHS had them for as well. Since I don't need a bunch right now, this was the way to go. I noticed they had 6mm ones that were about $2 cheaper per pack. They are really pretty nice and are exactly what you noted they are good for, right around track and buildings. Some of the smallest ones might just work for between the rails on a not so well maintained siding. Still think I may have a use for making my own at some point so again, appreciate you sharing how you did them They turned out great and are going to fit nicely into that new scene you are working on.

 

That price is about average then.
The ones I saw were from $9.99 to $19 per pack.

 

I finally have all the scenic material that I think I'll need to start working on the bog.
As I was gathering it up and started to play around with how I want to lay in the material, a thought crossed my mind.

I'd like to get some input and see what others might think.

The land and bog bottom colors I'm happy with, however, after laying down some tufts I don't think I can get the edges completely covered up with tufts and grasses? I'm not sure how much I can cover with the tufts, static grass or fine turf?

So it occured to me that if the edges don't get covered completely then I'd be left with a bright strip of ground showing through.
So I'm wondering if I shouldn't paint the edges of the land with a darker brown (but not as dark as the bottom) approximately 1/4" to 3/8" inwards to where the tufts would cover the line of color difference and try to blend or dry brush them together.

Here's what I have now.

 

In Louisiana your ground cover is going to go right down to the water in most places. Use some turf to fill between your tufts if you want it to look authentic.

 

Thanks Tad, I plan on doing just that.
I'll cover an entire area with full strength glue, set the tufts in it, the darker green around the edges, slightly lighter green a little further in and mix the up, then I'll put down a heavy coverage of static grass and suck up the excess. Then I'll sprinkle a light amount of fine ground foam to fill things in and suck any excess of that.

What I'm worried about is if there is any light brown earth showing between the water and dark green tufts.

 

It should be dark down by the water. If the water has dropped recently, you would have a darker strip along the waters edge and then could have some lighter above. I’d go ahead and paint it before you put the turf down. At least a darker strip along the edge.

 

Maybe I’m missing something but what you have looks good to me, Allen. It looks like the ground slopes away from shallow to deeper water.

 

Yes it does Joe.
But what I am worried about the edges of the peninsulas or the jetties. I painted them a lighter earth brown while the bog bottom is much darker.

If I place the tufts and static grass on them and it doesn't cover the exposed edges, the lighter brown might standout and contrast too much.
I know, I'm probably overthinking this, but someone gave me an idea and I tried, and I think it'll allow me to stop overthinking this, lol.

I grabbed some RailCenter "Soil" wash, and enamel weathering wash and went around the edges. It's darker than the light brown, but not darker than the bog bottom. So now any exposed edges that doesn't get covered with grasses or tufts, won't stand out as much.

I suppose I should have painted it ALL the same color as the bog bottom?
Oh well live and learn...

 

That’ll work.

 

Allen, I like what you did with this last pass It's actually good that it's a bit in-between so what shows should give the impression that the water level dropped and the ground is starting to dry in the southern heat. Darker like the bog bottom would look like it just dropped that day. At least that is my take on it.

 

Thanks guys! I'm not sure how much the water level fluctuates in a bog like this, but one thing I would think is certain, it's always wet.

 

Now I see it! I was thinking the water level would be lower. It looks very good. I think this will be a great scene.

 

Ok, I went down after all the ghouls and goblins went home tonight and played around with the first little section.

I applied the glue base then placed the dark green tufts around the edges.
Hard to see but I did add some lighter colored tufts towards the middle and rear.
The large white flowered shrub is something I got from Scenic Express made by Martin Welberg. Before adding it I misted it with hairspray and sprinkled on some Woodland Scenics white flowers.

Next I mixed some 4mm dark green and 6mm autumn grass and applied very heavy around the entire area and sucked up the excess.
I then sprinkled on a variety of fine green ground foam and misted it all with hairspray.
Before it dried, I lightly applied some Woodland Scenics yellow and purple flowers.
Then added some small bits of clump foliage and the Woodland Scenics Tall Grass and misted more hairspray to lock stuff in place.




I'm not sure how deep I'll pour the water, but it should be at least halfway up the edges.
This is just the undergrowth, I plan to add more small shrubs, trees and stumps along with some 12mm tufts to the bog bottom around the edges.

 

Holy cats! That looks GOOD.

 

It sure does look good! Excellent work, Allen.