Static Grass Spreader

[chippy]

On Sunday I pop along to my local club the North Somerset Modelling Society monthly painting meeting at the Weston Helicopter Museum where they take over the conference room for the day , basically it's a two way deal , several members of the modelling club are also volunteers at the museum and the museum sells model kits . One of the members makes railway layouts 1200 mm x 600 mm with that very tiny gauge . anyway that day he was working on the scenic ground work using static grass and a home made machine made from a battery fly squatter , a metal tea strainer and a metal bulldog clip the whole thing cost under £10. The results were fantastic , by using different lengths and colured grasses he was able to produce realistic looking lawns, fields and country side .
First the area was cover in PVA glue and then a metal pin in a bulldog clip which is attached to the device was inserted in the base , then the static grass was shaken through the tea strainer , the electric current made the grass stand up on end giving a most realistic covering I have ever seen .
For those of us who are looking for larger base displays this could be a cheaper and more realistic
way to go than buying grass sheets or other grass products .
Here's a link of how to make one
I.m going to try it on my Sopwith project , I'll let you know how it goes .
chippy

 

[Helm]

Isn't that cheating Chippy? its not meant to be easy you know! Great idea that
Steve

 

[DEL]

I've always been crap at getting static grass to look good. I made one about a year ago, it's dead easy and it works brilliantly.
End results look best when some of the individual clumps you can buy are added.
Got the fly swatter and tea strainer and batteries from I think a discount shop called B&M total cost was about a fiver

 

[pte1643]

I, like Del, have also made my own... I agree, it's real easy and works great.

I did find you have to get quite close to the "Pin", that you use for the negative, to get the best results.

The only problem with this is that while you're shaking your contraption to sieve the grass out, occasionally you with inevitably catch the pin, and ark across, causing you to jump and throw all the grass out of the top of the Tea Strainer.

 

[DEL]

I, like Del, have also made my own... I agree, it's real easy and works great.

I did find you have to get quite close to the "Pin", that you use for the negative, to get the best results.

The only problem with this is that while you're shaking your contraption to sieve the grass out, occasionally you with inevitably catch the pin, and ark across, causing you to jump and throw all the grass out of the top of the Tea Strainer.

Hard Core Modelling That's the best bit.

 

[chippy]

It's good to know some members of PF have tried this out and found it successful . "The only problem with this is that while you're shaking your contraption to sieve the grass out, occasionally you with inevitably catch the pin, and ark across, causing you to jump and throw all the grass out of the top of the Tea Strainer. " pte 1643 I think you'r meant to use a about a one 1 inch pin not a 6 inch . Paul I'm happy you found this useful .
I think for the purpose of the amount of base area most of would need to cover perhaps a smaller type of strainer would be more useful to concentrate the fall of static grass . I'm looking at some of my wife's metal measuring spoons , with a few holes drilled in these could be just the right size
chippy

 

[housecarl]

£3 for the swatter.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Handheld-...ants_Weed_Pest_Control_CV&hash=item5af6c81bad

 

[Gellso]

Tried it once until a bluebottle entered the kitchen.....I was picking static grass out of every orifice for months because of some over exuberant swatting.

 

[chippy]

Quote from Gellso ".I was picking static grass out of every orifice for months because of some over exuberant swatting." just exactly what part of your anatomy did you have the pin placed in for that to happen Grant !!! I'll make sure I wear my rubber bondage suit with mouth gag before applying static grass from now on .
chippy

 

[DEL]

Quote from Gellso ".I was picking static grass out of every orifice for months because of some over exuberant swatting." just exactly what part of your anatomy did you have the pin placed in for that to happen Grant !!! I'll make sure I wear my rubber bondage suit with mouth gag before applying static grass from now on .
chippy

Well I suppose everybody needs a hobby.......

 

[Nap]

just exactly what part of your anatomy did you have the pin placed in for that to happen Grant !!! I'll make sure

I wear my rubber bondage suit with mouth gag before applying static grass from now on .
chippy

Help Mum I am scared ...........

Nap