Gluing static grass

[JR]

Evening mate, hope all is well at Race towers?

Now this is an extremely handy result as I actually have a pot of modge podge at the back of the cupboard for ages!

Thanks very much for finding that video:thumb2:

All well thank you Si
I saw that video some time ago, when I made up a bottle of the mix with dishwasher liquid and tried it out the result following with the PVA flow it was amazing.
I used some normal joinery PVA just thinned down as he mentioned .

[Lee Drennen]

just paint to retain it?

Yes if it’s still loose lightly spray it with white glue water mixture that should seal it. I can’t remember the mixture I just mix it to my liking. I used different shades of grasses I like the early spring look so I mix a little dead looking grasses with a little bright to get this look. I also make som bare spots too

[Lee Drennen]

diluted is the way to go.

Most definitely. I found some pics of my HO layout only I used black sand instead of Grass. I’m also including a pic of my favorite go to turf blend that I add a little brighter grasses to it to give a spring like look. That Brown paint is really cheap at Wal-Mart

[Tim Marlow]

I got to dilute PVA by trial and error. Static charge makes the grass fall “standing up”, (if that makes any sense). The tail of the grass then penetrates the glue and sticks in that position. Non diluted PVA skins over too quickly (probably due to the lower water content) so the grass can’t penetrate and stick to it when it drops. Diluting the PVA slows the skin over time making the process more successful. Never thought of adding a surfactant like washing up liquid though. Might try that if I ever do it again.

[Andy T]

I'm using quite a cheap, runny PVA. That may be why I've never found the need to dilute it for static grass.

I do dilute it when applying on top of scenic items to fix them down (usually through a pipette or spray mist bottle), generally spraying the surface with alcohol first to break the surface tension.

Washing up liquid sounds like a good idea instead though.

[scottie3158]

I would never of thought to use Squishy up liquid with it or to thin it Down. I’ll definitely have to try that :thumb2:
Do you have a PVA of choice?

Si,
No I just use the big tubes from a craft shop.

[Tim Marlow]

I use cheap PVA from a pound shop.

[Scratchbuilder]

I put little blobs of pva all over in a random pattern and all not at once, then take an applicator and sprinkle the long grass over the area. Then if I want some longer grass I cut it from a cheap paintbrush bought from the local diy shop. Once the whole area is covered then I get to work with first the base coat of black primer and once dry then start to colour the grass....

[Si Benson]

I put little blobs of pva all over in a random pattern and all not at once, then take an applicator and sprinkle the long grass over the area. Then if I want some longer grass I cut it from a cheap paintbrush bought from the local diy shop. Once the whole area is covered then I get to work with first the base coat of black primer and once dry then start to colour the grass....

Currently trying the ‘paint the lot with black primer’ painting technique….not sure how it’s going :thinking:

[Panzerwrecker]

Currently trying the ‘paint the lot with black primer’ painting technique….not sure how it’s going :thinking:

It really is the best method. Not only does it hide any glossy sheen that the PVA might leave but the majority of static grasses I have ever used also leave an unnatural sheen. You can’t really go wrong with applying all the groundworks then applying a black or dark earth coloured primer for a shadow base coat. There are a plethora of green grass coloured acrylics and it’s also simple to mix yellow and blues to get the perfect highlighted grass tones.


Best of luck

[Lee Drennen]

Si. here’s some better pics I use a paint roller or brush to apply

[Si Benson]

Si. here’s some better pics I use a paint roller or brush to apply [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1210650[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1210651[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1210652[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1210653[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1210654[/ATTACH]

That works well Lee…..looks really good

[Scratchbuilder]

It should be ok. Choose different greens and randomly spray small areas working from light to dark colours.... once you have your grass colours you can then spray around the area with an earth/grey mix to cover any blank spaces.
Check out this part of my Centurion AVLB base that I have just finished, that might help you.

[Si Benson]

It should be ok. Choose different greens and randomly spray small areas working from light to dark colours.... once you have your grass colours you can then spray around the area with an earth/grey mix to cover any blank spaces.
Check out this part of my Centurion AVLB base that I have just finished, that might help you.

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I’d be more than happy to get a result like that…..very Nice :smiling4:

[Si Benson]

So with your combined helpful tips and some very helpful links to YouTube sites I’ve had a go and producing something to suit a 1 72 build Im working on.




Interested to hear what you think :thinking: