I recently purchased the Woodland Scenic static grass applicator. I plan to add 2-3 mm grasses on my layout. Is it imperative that I also use their "Static-Tac’ adhesive or can I use simple white glue thinned with water, or perhaps even Matt Medium? Other than what the directions read, are there any suggestions or advice from those who have used this device?
Thanks.
JRP
I have used slightly thinned latex paint as well as slightly thinned “Mod-Podge” matte medium with satisfactory results.
I’ve also made “tufts” using Aleene’s tacky glue. I make these on waxed paper taped to a metal baking sheet. I have two slightly different home made static applicators.
Good Luck, Ed
I used white glue with water mixture. Found out it was not so much about how you applied the grass but that it was well seated, you apply the grass, then you add the static charge layer up till you get the look you want. Start with fine ground foam, let dry, vacuum excess, add 2mm and repeat to what ever length you want. Also each layer should be a bit smaller than the last.
I use one of those cheap Grass-Tech applicators. It works fine. I also use thinned white glue. I prefer to use a variety of lengths and grass colors to get a more natural, wild look.
I use Silflor grass. I don’t like the Woodland Scenics 2-mm grass at all. It ends up looking fuzzy, not grass-like at all. Silflor 4 and 6 mm are my go-to grasses. I model HO.
Thanks all for the suggestions. I was not aware of Silflor grasses, and while I was impressed as to how they look, the shipping cost using Scenic Express is (in my opinion) a bit steep at $18. Do you know if anyone else offers these grasses for less?
Walthers does sell them too. Three a re few different brands of grasses with varying color tones. I just read something the other day about dying your own colors too.
Shane
Gale Force make great grass etc. You can buy static grass at many local gaming places. E-Bay can be real cheap, got a lot of mine there.
JRP,
I have used static grass for many years. In my experience, most white glue mixtures will work well for adhering the grass to the surface. I usually will apply one coat and then go over the area again after the first coat sinks in a bit before applying the grass.
I know Silflor is expensive but I have tried nearly everything out there and it is the “Cadillac” of static grass. I would hold your nose and pay the big bucks for a couple of colors of the 4 and 6 mm Silflor just so you can see what the static grass thing is all about with quality products. This will give you a base line to compare the other stuff out there.
Other quality grass makes besides Silflor include:
Peco, G force 9, Woodland Scenics (the new stuff – not the stuff in the big plastic bottles), Noch and Scenic Express.
BTW: the Woodland Scenic booklet that comes with their grass gun contains many very useful tips and methods – nearly all the tricks I have learned over the last 14 years of working with static grass are in the book. It is a great document to have even if you don’t own their product.
There is a download here:
https://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/instructions/FS639inst.pdf
Have fun,
Guy
Thanks Guy. Good advice and suggestions for me.