Bluebonnet Help

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Howdy everyone!

I am about to start my first module for the club I recently joined. I’m going to do a simple scene with two mains going across a bridge over a small creek, a narrow paved road that crosses the tracks, a few hills, and trees. I want it to represent central Texas to southeast Texas in the spring time so bright greens and most importantly: bluebonnets! They are everywhere in spring (if we get rain…) and are stunning. The occaisional indian paint brush really brings them out. However I cannot find them produced commercially anywhere. So here is the part I need help with. Does anyone know where I can find them if they are commercially made? And in case they are not, has anyone made them themselves (or something similar) and can give me some advice on doing so?

As of now, my plan is to begin modeling small bushes of them using leftover stranded electrical wire. I want to start by untwisting the wires, cutting them to length and sort of space them out like a small bush. Then I will paint them green, let them dry, then cover them with glue. Next I will sprinkle on the blue leaves (dyed to various shades). Once that is dry paint the tips white and then plant. For individuals and mass mats, I don’t know yet. That is a bit intimidating still [:$]

Thoughts?

2

Not familiar with your plants, but had this thought. If you can’t find the right color flowers in Walthers or Scenic Express catalogs (they both list some flowers) could you make your own ground foam? I have seen blue sponges of a couple shades. Run one through the blender (the yard sale special, not the wife’s kitchen treasure). Have heard of folks making their own, one sponge wouldn’t be a great loss if it didn’t work. The $2-$5 blender will come in handy at other times for other jobs.

Good luck,

Richard

3

I live in Texas also. The typical blue bonnet is less than an inch in diameter. To model in scale it is going to be a small speck so any scaled flower touched with a bit of blue paint could represent a blue bonnet. Trying to get the white tip you will need a magnifying glass to see it.

4

You know I had forgotten about the sponge idea. I have a few of those already so now to borrow a blender…

Eagle, I see what you are saying. I am just concerned with getting the 3d view of a field of bluebonnets. If I can give them any height at all I will. Thank you for bringing that up though.