I have build my layout, and laided down (glued down) a grass mat. I recently added a gravel parking lot near by and the area off the grass mat buckled. I need help and I am on the edge of giving up. I would like to keep the grass mat and only have to fix it. What should I do.
Your link doesn’t work. I copied and paste, and I get a Google listing. So, the grass mat you glued down is what buckled? If you read how to use this forum, and how to post pictures, you can post your Photobucket pictures here on your thread. That would help us, to help you, a lot easier.
If it is the “grass mat” that buckled, and you can’t reposition it, you might be able to use a razor knive, and cut open the buckled area, and flatten it out. The cut should be hid by the grass texture. If this is not what you mean, please read the “how to” on posting pictures on here from your Photobucket account.
Mike.
Well, the LION would never have used a grass mat. That would be an unusual wayside on a subway train, don’t you think?
If I was building a simple layout, I would have laid out the tracks and the parking lot a roadway, and then cut the mat to fit the place where I wanted grass.
Ascutally, I would not have used a grass mat at all, I would have sprinkled dirt where I wanted ground, and then would have used some grass colored ground cover over the top of that. Something like this comes to mind…
ROAR
It works for me. Here’s a clickable link.
Thanks Jeffery, must be on my end, or…what ever! with this new format, who knows. I just went to add a You Tube link to my community settings, and I can’t get that to work either.
Never had problems before.
Mike.
Grass mats are made to be laid out and glued down. I’m assuming you got it wet when installing the parking lot. Getting them wet after that is taking a chance on it falling apart, although I’ve not got my hands on one in 40 years, so maybe something’s changed?
Also, are your sure it’s the mat? Maybe it’s what’s underneath that buckled?
I agree some careful slices with a knife to peel it up where it’s a problem. Let it dry unless it already is. Then glue it back down.
In the long run, you’ll probably be happier if you grow your own “grass” and other ground cover, so check out some methods and materials if you want to try something different than the grass mat.
Thank you all for the help so far. I am sure the mat itself has crinckled, so should I use more nails to secure it or what, beacuse I can’t remove it.
Slice and glue underneath, then weight down until the glue dries would be my startegy.
Hey Alex,
If there is one thing RR modeling teaches you is patience. This is just the beginning of things going wrong but you learn to work your way through them. Looking back on the solutions is part of the enjoyment imo.
Never give up.
Bob
I looked at the pictures and didn’t see a buckle but why not just leav it alone? The world is not perfecty flat so a buckle is now a hill. [:D]
I don’t see any evidence of buckling either.
Rich
WHat kind of glue did you use? If it was white glue, like Elmers, you may be able to pour water on it, let it sit for a while, and the glue may release. On the other hand, flooding it with water may cause problems with ouer parts of your scenery
Eh? I don’t think I passed that class.!
ROAR
Hey Lion,
You must have been absent (perhaps testing the wine [:D] ) when the diplomas were handed out.
If you haven’t learned patience you wouldn’t be here now.
By the way, congratulations on the MR article.
Bob
Well, the links worked for me & I was able to see all of your pictures. Is your layout modelled after a real place? Because I’d really like to see it. I agree with Kregan and the other posters, real lawns are not flat & a few bumps even on the best-manicured lawn just add to the realism. And there’s usually a transition between a parking lot & a lawn; tar or concrete finds its way onto the lawn as well as gravel & dirt, & the lawn is in a perpetual battle to reclaim the parking lot.
Of course, there’s always Rule #1…enjoy.
I used white elmers glue and water for the parking lot. The link to my photos doesn’t have the pics of the buckling, they are just pics of the layout. I mighto try the glue and weight ideas. Thank you everyone for the ideas, keep em coming.
Thanks bigpianobuy, I appreciate the comments. The place it actually fictional, I was mixing rural Ohio with outskirts of Buffalo, NY and I got this. I will eventally add a passenger depot in between the town and the house, next to the track. I will add more photos of the layout progress soon.
Dear Mike Lehman, I like your advice to slice, glue, then weight. What type of glue should I use?
What kind did you use to attach it in the first place?
Gidday Alex, boiling water is good for softening white glue, BUT BE VERY CAREFUL!!!, the fix could end up being worse than the actual problem.[banghead] [sigh]
Sometimes you have to know when to stop while you’re ahead.[:-^]
Cheers, the Bear.