Anyone tried Noch’s static grass with or without the grassmaster. I would like to see some pictures. I saw the one by Lou in MR. I would like more and some other experiences. Lou, could you say more??
The grass behind the switchstand in this photo is static grass:
To see a larger version, click: http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/images/post_photos/large/Photo_20-2.jpg
(NOTE: The grass in the foreground is Stilflor, which is a fuzzy grass matt material, not static grass.)
Here’s an extreme closeup of the static grass from the previous photo:
To see a larger version, click: http://mymemoirs.net/model-trains/images/post_photos/large/Photo_20_turnout.jpg
Can anyone give a few words on how you apply it?
Hi Art,
I know why you’re asking the question because the blower they sell to apply the static grass costs a fortune…I think around $90.00. I ALWAYS like to find a less expensive way to do things, so here’s my approach.
I wash out an empty plastic bottle of Palmolive Dish Detergent…the 17 oz. size. When dry, I put in some of the Noch static grass, turn the bottle upside down over the area I want to spread the grass and blow it on. Little “puffs” with the bottle work well to spray out the grass. I only fill the bottle about a quarter inch deep so there is plenty of air in the bottle to blow the grass out. I sometimes only put about a tablespoon of one color in the bottle and spray it all out then add a small amount of a different color grass and spray that. As you probably know, blending is always a good approach for adding color and texture. This “bottle” approach works real well and I hope you will try it. It’s pretty inexpensive. Certainly, if you have large areas to do, you might want to have several bottles handy, with different colors of static grass in each.
Regards,
Mondo
Mondo,
What holds the grass in position?
BB
Bruce:
You put down some glue first, I use white glue, diluted 1:1 with water, and let it stand for a couple minutes first to develop some “tack”.
A friend of mine, Ron Collins, built an applicator that was described in an old issue of MR way back in the 1970s, I think, using a static charge generator wheel from Edmund Scientific. The applicator was extremely effective, but a pain to build. It’s what was used to apply the grass you see in the photo above.
I’ve had less luck trying to just blow the stuff on with a bottle without some sort of electronic static generator contraption, so I suspect the Noch applicator will do the trick quite well, but it’s outrageously expensive, and probably won’t sell to anyone but professional modelers or serious scenery nuts!
See for a comparison of manual application versus the gun tool:
http://www.ztrains.com/pages/workshop/static/static.html
Could you not wind several strands of copper wire around the neck of a delivery bottle, attach a battery (maybe a double A, or even a 9-volt) to the ends, and have the grass orient itself on the basis of polarity?
No, I’m no engineer, but that doesn’t mean I can’t pose the question…to be answered by those who know? [:)]
Sorry,
I should have mentioned that I put down a layer of diluted Matte Medium or Elmer’s glue, then blow it on the area.
Hope this helps.
Mondo
Wow, I never thought of airbrushing the color onto the grass. J.R.
I was the first to import Noch static grass into the U.S. back in the 60’s. Then it came in a flexible plastic bottle with a top with holes like a salt shaker. You simply squezzed the bottle and it created enough enough static electricity to make the “grass” fibres stand up. I have no clue why anyone would want to spend $100. for an applicator.