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Post by steveturner on Aug 30, 2012 7:35:09 GMT -8
Guys i wanted to try static grass but for the amount of use i would get out of it etc i couldnt justify the price of high end! I picked up a 30 dollar unit made from i believe a fly swat. I find it meets my needs and does a good enough enough job for me here and there around the layout! Cripes i wish WS made smaller jugs of grass there is a ton compressed into those jars HA! Going to try some other brand of grass too! Anyways if your an average guy, with average home layout, with average money to spend i give the 30 dollar static grass applicator two thumbs up! Now the wife was not too happy when i got her to hold the wire and i accidently zapped her HA! Now if you have a pesky cat this could be a great tool in trainroom...................flies too! Steve
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Post by valenciajim on Aug 30, 2012 12:10:25 GMT -8
Can you provide more information about the unit?
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Post by steveturner on Aug 30, 2012 12:21:05 GMT -8
There is guy who makes and sells them on E bay for 30 bucks.................good reviews. Basically made from a battery operated fly swat and a metal sift. If you wish to make your own google fly swat static grass applicator or words to that effect and info comes up.Also u u tube there are videos on how to make them with fly swat. I think the fly swats run about 5.00. Intersting product for a reasonable price that does the job for me. Of course you can by the professional Noche etc foer a couple hundred dollars. Thats more like a loco for me!   ...........e bay look under static grass MR. |
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Post by laughinghippie on Aug 30, 2012 16:21:01 GMT -8
I made one myself a while back from an electric flyswatter from HArbor Freight Tools. Between the flyswatter ($1.99 on sale), mesh strainer ($1 at the dollar store next door to HF), I spent more on the D-cell batteries than on the unit itself! ;D
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Post by fr8kar on Aug 31, 2012 4:05:38 GMT -8
I built one of those flyswatter static grass applicators a couple years ago. It worked okay, and I had several of my Free-mo buddies ask to use it. I decided since it was so popular I would build another one. This time I chose to build one using the Ztrains Grassinator plans (I would link to the plans but I cannot find them).
I sent off to Australia for the negative ion generator - the key component - and followed the plans pretty closely. The assembly is more compact and easier to handle than the Grasswater. I installed a jack and use an AC adapter to power the unit. I don't know if I should attribute the difference to wall power vs. battery power, but the difference between the Grasswatter and the Grassinator is very noticable. It's remarkable how large the static field is with the Grassinator vs. the Grasswater. I ended up building two Grassinators and gave one away a couple years ago. The Grasswater ended up with one of the Free-mo guys and I believe he still uses it.
Static grass applicators are very effective tools for making fields of grass, but they are so easy to use it's easy to overuse them. It's possible to make a scene very "one note" by leaning to heavily on static grass. A good blend of static grass, Silflor Buffalo Grass, sifted soil/dirt and other materials help strike the right balance and make the scene more realistic.
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Post by theengineshed on Sept 1, 2012 4:58:52 GMT -8
It is very easy to make tufts like Silfor buffalo grass with a static applicator.
Put drops of glue, clear glue or colored with acrylics, on a teflon baking sheet. I use Eileens tacky glue. Before the glue dries, apply a static field and appropriate fibers. You can use multiple lengths of fibers and colors, just like Silfor does. After the glue dries, use a credit card to remove the tufts.
Just don't use the wife's good cookie sheet. She will take a dim view of such activities...
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Post by steveturner on Sept 1, 2012 11:14:38 GMT -8
The cookie sheet ! Do you attach the wire and clip to sheet? Thought the teflon would be an insulator. I have heard of guys using NON stick tin foil to do this. Curious about the cookie sheet.Thanks steve
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Post by theengineshed on Sept 1, 2012 11:35:27 GMT -8
Yes attach the ground clip to the cookie sheet. I filed a bit of coating off the pan for a metal to metal connection, but I don't think it makes a difference. I'll post some photos...
Pete
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Post by theengineshed on Sept 1, 2012 12:16:42 GMT -8
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Post by rhpd42002 on Sept 2, 2012 7:49:51 GMT -8
Those are some good looking grass clumps, Pete.
Just out of curiosity, is that tank 1/48 or 1/35 scale?
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Post by theengineshed on Sept 2, 2012 12:45:48 GMT -8
Thanks, making the clumps is real easy.
It's a Corgi tank that scales out around 1/72 or thereabouts...
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Post by steveturner on Sept 2, 2012 22:10:17 GMT -8
Well i did not have a cookie sheet and the wife gave me a hell of a look when i pulled her gourmet cookie sheet out of the drawer so i had to rethink my strategy. . I was at the paint store today being a painter and i thought maybe i could use paint can lids the ones supplied with empty cans!Picked up three to try out! Well they work great. Dobs of arlenes glue with the clip from grass machine clipped to edge worked great. Plus with the rim around the lid it was easy to handle and put excess grass back into container. The grass clumps peeled of nicely using a spade type hobby knife blade. Flexable enough too to contour to scenery etc when applied witha dab of glue. I added hobby acrylic earth tone paint to the glue for an added look which enhanced the clumps.The paint can lid was very shinny so that i guess helped the peeling off of the clumps.When i think what i have been paying for ready made clumps the 30 dollar investment was well worth it just for clumps plus being able to use machine here and there on layout.Steve |
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Post by nebrzephyr on Sept 3, 2012 6:13:13 GMT -8
Just curious....besides Woodland Scenics static grass fibers, what other brands have folks tried with their static grass applicators?
Thanks. Bob
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Post by Christian on Sept 3, 2012 6:38:33 GMT -8
Just curious....besides Woodland Scenics static grass fibers, what other brands have folks tried with their static grass applicators? Thanks. Bob Silflor, Scenic Express and Heki. Lots and lots of choices out there. The Scenic Express "wins" on looks/price. Silflor is outstanding and very pricey. Woodland Scenics is so so in terms of both look and price. Noch and Faller also have nice looking materials. |
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Post by theengineshed on Sept 3, 2012 7:03:47 GMT -8
You can also use "natural" material too, in addition to the acrylic fibers. Horse hair is sold in various green or brown shades. If you hand cut it into appropriate lengths with a single edge razor blade, you'll add some randomness to the process of creating tufts. Don't cut the horse hair one strand at a time, chop small bundles. You should use fibers of a couple of lengths or colors for tuft variation, depending on what you are trying to achieve.
I like the paint can lid idea too, these have a non-stick coating, and are sized about right for small batches of tufts. An excellent suggestion in a $30 static grass applicator topic!
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Post by steveturner on Sept 3, 2012 16:29:51 GMT -8
Scenic Express site flock grass. I assume the letters at beginning of stock number is mfg of product. Could someone recommend some summer spring grasses for west coast 2 to 4 mm i think. I had read on other posts that some product is too shinny in appearance??. Anyone use longer than 4mm. I think you need to use a bit of condensed scale when using some products. I am sure our trees that many of us use are condensed scale!Like to order 6 packs of product to enhance my WS flock grasses. I think WS is 2mm. Input would be appreciated.Thanks steve
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...........e bay look under static grass MR.
