How To Make Cornshocks

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Does anyone have a method of making corn shocks, in HO scale?

Thanks,
Joel

2

well I know corn stalks can be made from the plastic green artificial turf like carpet and door mat material. To make a corn shock you would have to maek the stalks, tie them together and weather/paint it to the drab color a dead corn stalk is. Perhaps even take some actual dead corn stalk material cut it down and glue to a prepainted stalk made out of a toothpick or something. Then dull coat the whole thing

3

Joel,
They are probably pewter castings, but Musket Miniatures:
http://www.musketminiatures.com/
has corn shocks on their Web site as item HSA 1430, listed under the Trees, Crops, Cactus category. Unfortunately, they don’t have a picture of the item, and I haven’t checked my Walthers catalog to see if they are shown in there. Hope this helps.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

4

Howdy all, Well lets try this again. It seems that the first time I replied nothing happened.
I thought I remembered an article awhile back in Model Railroader about making cornstalks from some weed. It took me a few minutes of digging but I found it.
It was in the August 1994 edition of Model Railroader, page 104-105.
The author was Bill Henderson.
He used a weed called Redtop, and that when they are dried they turn a tanish color so you can use them just as they are.
I am not sure about copy right stuff, so I am not sure if it ok to scan it and send you a copy or not?
Well anyway now you know where you can look and I have to imagine that they still have that back issue around.
Good luck

5

Here’s one idea that I never got to try . . . maybe someday.

When we first bought this house there was a tree we had to eventually remove. I believe it was a red cedar. It used to drop these little branch tips that were about an inch or so long. When they dried out and turned a light brownish color, they reminded me of cornstalks . . . a lot! I had planned to try using them for corn on the layout but as I mentioned, we had to end up getting rid of that tree. I need to find another source for the new layout! [8D]

6

Thanks, Fellows, for the ideas. I didn’t see any cornshocks in the Walthers catalog, however, I should have that back issue of MR. I’ll dig that out.

Thanks, again,
Joel
NMRA Member
113682

7

Joel,

You can use raffia, which is very similar to dried corn husks and is available in most craft stores. Cut the raffia in varying lengths appropriate to the scale of your project, then glue them (I find spray adheasive works really well) to toothpicks or skewers, cut to the size you need. Once the raffia is glued in place you can trim and shape it. If you are trying to simulate fresh corn stalks you can usually find green colored raffia, or try using green ribbon. Good luck with your project!

Doug

8

Joel,
I didn’t include this product in my other posting on this thread, because you noted that you wanted corn shocks, but in case you are also interested in corn rows before they are shocks, you might be interested in Alkem Scale Models:
http://www.geocities.com/bkempins/ASMMain/Corn.html
A bit pricey if you want a big field.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543