I remember reading that you can use hairspray to hold scenery in place. I have some steep hills that I brushed with white glue and the covered with different blends of Woodland Scenics turf. I thought I read that you could spray the turf with hairspray to help hold the turf in place. If this is correct, do you use the stuff in the spray can of the pump?
Any recommendations I have seen are to get the cheapest, strongest holding stuff you can get. I got mine in a spray can, but I have seen others say they prefer the pump. Not sure just how much difference it does make. I think the most important part is the strong hold.
Good luck,
Richard
You cant go wrong with “Aqua Net”, but get it unscented. Otherwise your workshop will smell like a cheap beauticians hair salon! Seriously though, When I used to work in a architectural model shop in the 80’s we bought cases of the stuff. Myself I used more cans of Aqua Net then I care to remember, but the stuff worked. I think you can find it at dollar stores and the like.
Happy tree making!
Jeff B
I’ve always used the spray can. But, if this is scenery all ready in place on your layout, the pump might be best as it would give you a more controlled application, with out a lot of over-spray, if I’m reading your post right. Get the most generic “super-hold” you can find, and make sure it is un-scented. I got mine at Wally World. Hair spray is not a “for ever” hold. You might want to think of using a quick dusting of spray adhesive, like 3M 77 or something similar. Use just a dusting, as to much of this leaves a “whitish” coating. Using either, remember to protect the surrounding areas. .
Mike.
Aqua Net, unscented. Try it!
Where I have seen hairspray suggested is in the making of trees more so than scenery, beause it is very much a surface effect and does not really sink in like WS’s Scenic Cement.
Somewhat OT but my sister was a child of the 1960s when “ratted” hair became popular and she used a brand of hairspray which was both cheap AND scented. Awful smell. I think it was diluted shellac because once sprayed her hair was almost solid. I remember one time a wasp got in the house and we had no wasp spray. My mom sprayed the wasp with my sister’s hairspray and it dropped like an anvil, writhing in its death throes on the carpet. It isn’t often you feel sorry for a wasp …
Dave Nelson
That’s great Dave…just about fell off my chair laughing…I went with a girl like that for a short period, I swear you could break a bottle on her head and she wouldn’t of felt a thing.
OK…sorry…back on topic…when I made my trees, and scenery items, I did the initial attaching of the foam with a good spray glue, shook off the loose stuff, and then, after adding more to touch up the bare spots, I used the hair spray for a final coat. I found the finished product didn’t stick to my hands as much as the spray glue did. It made it easier to set small tress, and shrubs with out everything sticking to you.
Mike.
I use unscented hair spray bought at the Dollar Tree.
The thought is that the cheapest would not be what a women would consider being the best hair spray, most likely gooeyer.
Anyway, you can’t beat the price.
Bob
I used “Finesse - Firm Hold” in a pump dispenser. The advantage to the pump is that there’s less waste - when the siphon tube can’t reach what’s left in the bottom of the container, simply dump it into the next one and carry on.
Wayne
Wayne,
Everytime,You post,those pic’s,I get a faint heart,that is ‘‘Fantastic’’ scenery…
Cheers,
Frank
Thanks for your generous assessment of my work, Frank. [:$]
The nice thing about showing a layout using photos is that you can show only the stuff which is presentable, leaving the unfinished bare plaster or foam out of the frame, along with towns roughed-in with taped-together structures or cardboard mock-ups. I have a fairly large area which needs to be covered with trees, and much of it will be viewable from more than one side. I’ve been putting it off for several years, but have a couple of ideas and hope to test them out when I get a few projects for others out of the way. By then, it should be warm enough to try them out outdoors, as it could be messy. If it’s successful, or even somewhat successful, I’ll start a thread with photos illustrating the process.
And, just to show that not all is green and leafy, part of the area mentioned:
Wayne
I purchased a Gallon of the Super Hold Hair Spray from a Bulk Beauty Salon outlet near me. I sure got some looks when entering and asking for a Gallon! 
It works OK but wanted something with a bit more hold.
I have Future Floor Polish (which is clear acrylic paint - that the Air Plane Modelers use for fixing scratches on the Plane Canopies).
I had been using it for gluing clear plastic to the windows of my buildings as well as making the clear plastic look like glass.
With its ability to glue light weight items I figured I would give it a try on my Puff Ball Trees as I had over 2500 I was making and the foam seemed to not be sticking as well as I would have liked!
With making as many Puff Ball Trees as I was - using the Spray Glue (which would have been a much better at holding the Foam on the Poly Fiber Fil) the cost was a bit too high. With having to make thousands of Puff Balls I used green Paint for an adhesive !
It works well but when I cut the Puff Balls in half (sure makes gluing them to the hillside easier with Latex Caulk) a fair amount of the ground foam came off.
So I tried using the Future Floor Polish as a glue to hold the Ground Form on - and it WORKS rather well.
I just pour the Future into a trigger spray bottle and place the Puff Balls on cardboard and give them a good spray.
I let them dry a while and then turn the Puffs over and give the other side a spray.
I can say that the Foam loss is a lot less using this method!
I plan on using the Future Spray to give my Super Trees a good coating when I get to doing those in the coming months!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
From reading you post I actually think the answer would be no, that is if you are talking about holding turf on painted plaster, foam, etc. For that kind of application you need to mix a 50/50 solution of white glue and water and either spray it on the turf or use an eyedropper to apply it to the turf. You can also use Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement which is made for just that purpose. Hair spray is used mostly for attaching turf to trees of bushes, etc.
Bob,
Sounds like an idea to try. When you put the Future in a sprayer, what do you use to clean the sprayer? I’ve found that even white glue and water needs to be cleaned after each use, if you don’t want to get a plugged nozzle.
When you spray your puffballs, when do you add your ground foam? I would think if you sprinkled it on them while they were on the cardboard, that you would have a lot of foam stuck to the cardboard. I take it you cut your puffballs in half after you have completed them. Is that right?
Thank you,
Richard
Future Floor Polish…
Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether, May be removed,with Ammonia,or Windex,it is not paint…
Cheers,
Frank
Richard & Frank
I just bout water in mine and pump the sprayer until I know I have cleared out the Future!
As for it being or not being a PAINT - Call it what you want!
BUT!
If the Model Guys are spraying it on their models then it is a PAINT as it is covering the finish.
Just a difference of Opinion and Definition!
“a colored liquid applied to a surface in order to decorate or protect it, or in order to create a painting”
This seems to me to fit the Definition!
Again YMMV
BOB H - Clarion, PA
BOB,
The information,I provided,is right from the horses mouth,so to speak,SC Johnson,they make the Future Floor Polish… The definition,you provided,states colored liquid to a surface, Future,is clear… I’ve air brushed it many times, on 1/12 scale, R/C VEHICLES, to protect the paint finish…
Cheers,
Frank
Frank
Technically True!
BUT!
The Original Question was about using different GLUES (Hairspray) !
Which I am using the Future Floor Polish as a GLUE!
And it does work for the application I am using it for!
Again YMMV !
BOB H - Clarion, PA
BOB,
I’m sorry for NOTHING, Your interpretation of what I said,Merely ,were the properties of Furture Floor Polish, Never said it couldn’t be used for other purposes, I’ve also used it for scenery and trees…
No harm done,For either,
Cheers,
Frank
I have used hairspray for years. Pump spray for foam tree work and final set of ground cover etc. I also use it like glue and water for ballast. Don’t know what the other poster was talking about I have never had a problem with penetration. It soaks it all the way through.