Field grass height

Ratcals Sep 3, 2001

  1. Ratcals

    Ratcals TrainBoard Member

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    Well this may sound like a silly question but I'm going to ask it anyway. I'm in the process of adding some field grass from Woodland Scenic to my layout and I can't seem to get the grass cut to a reasonable scale height and still be able to handle it. What's everyone else doing? About 5 scale feet is about the smallest I can make it and still be able to handle it(nevermind still able to see it).

    Mark

    [ 02 September 2001: Message edited by: Ratcals ]</p>
     
  2. Pete

    Pete TrainBoard Member

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    You're doing it right! Now just chop it to the height you want with little scissors!! Pete
     
  3. PF2488

    PF2488 E-Mail Bounces

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    What I have done in the past is drill a small hole (1/32" to 1/16") in the place you want the grass. Take a small bundle of the long field grass and trim one end so that the grass is all even at one end. Put a small dab of white glue on the end. Stick the grass in the hole. After a few seconds, you can trim the end sticking out of the hole to the desired length. While the glue is still wet, you can spread out the top of the grass if you want. [​IMG]

    [ 04 September 2001: Message edited by: PF2488 ]</p>
     
  4. Colonel

    Colonel Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Garth,
    Great shot I like the effect of the tall grass? Are you using woodland scenics grass and is it for N scale?
     
  5. PF2488

    PF2488 E-Mail Bounces

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    Paul,

    Thanks for the compliment. [​IMG] I think it was Woodland Scenics Harvest Gold,but am not certain.
    I will look again sometime and see if I can find the tag.

    Yes, this is from my current N-scale layout. I am working on a bigger, better one.
     
  6. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    There is an article in one of my model railroad magazines about field grass. I'll have to look for the mag! Anyway what the person did was glue the grass down on the layout, (I think it was a big field of grass) and then they used barber sheers to cut the grass different height's. It was kinda cool! Yo might be able to use the side burn trimmers on an electric razor. BUT be careful, you might damage the razor.

    DJ
     
  7. atirns

    atirns TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like Im too late. Anyway, the electric clippers is the way I do it. Using siccors is really tough on anything under 6 N scale ft, but this way is perfect. You can buy a Con-air (?) one for about 30 bucks, but you can also find one at a garage sale or ask at your barbers if hes got any old ones he wants to get rid of.
     
  8. JohnC

    JohnC TrainBoard Member

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    Model Railroader ran an article about making fields of grass like you see in the mid-west. They ran the article probably about 16 or 17 years ago and featured an interurban running along a wheat field in Iowa or Kansas.

    The author used some shag carpeting that was dyed a greenish brown and then trimmed and clipped to the "correct" height. Later in the year, at a Greenberg show, I saw an N-Trak module with the same type of field.

    John
     
  9. mdrzycimski

    mdrzycimski TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have also read about using fake fur that you can buy in fabric stores. I think you cut it to the shape of the area you are going to cover and then airbrush it the correct color. Then just glue it down and work it into the adjacent scenery. I haven't tried it, just read about it.
     
  10. Benny

    Benny TrainBoard Member

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    i have seen the fur idea at the local HO layout, it looks like prairie grass, and it can cover great expanses, if needed. It feels nice to :D
     
  11. ten87

    ten87 TrainBoard Member

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    I haven't tried this yet, but hope to try it soon... Instead of gluing the fake fur down on the layout fabric-side down, why not scenic the area to be "grassed" and then paint it with straight matte medium. While its still wet, place the fake fur fabric side UP on the matte medium, without pushing it down too hard.

    [​IMG]
    Back-side of fake fur from http://sewing.about.com (thanks honey!)

    The fabric backer would hold the grass vertical while it's drying, and it would only adhere where you've glued. Once the glue has set, slide scissors under the fabric to cut the fur from the backer. It should look like the layout needs a shave at this point. That's when you take the moustache trimmer out and shave it to the correct height.

    I'm still in the track planning stage on the new layout, but plan on trying this, at least on a diorama.
     

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