Static Grass

[Griff]

Can someone tell me how the static grass is meant to be applied? I bought some, painted PVA glue to the bases I painted green, and using my thumb and index finger I lightly sprinkled the grass on. Then cleaned the overflowed grass off the sides and glently blew the clumps off...

It looks OK, but something just doesn't look right.



Any advice would be great.

[Norse]

don't sprinkle... immerse the base in a box of static grass and wiggle it around until no glue is visible... then shake off the excess and then blow really hard on the base (not in the direction of the static grass container or it all goes everywhere.. )... by blowing you lift one end of the grass out of the glue and make it stand upright, looking like grass...

as an aside, don't do the whole base in static grass otherwise it looks too pristine and also too monotonous... do bare patches as well where earth shows through.. or use 2 types of flock and grass for variety...

good luck,

R

[Griff]

Thanx duder!

[t3clis]

You could also apply a base of modeling sand on the base, then apply patches of static grass over the dirt... "A good base makes the worst painted model shine"

[Indigo]

I've found that superglue works a bit better than PVA for this, although it's loads more expensive.

[LittleFatPetey]

Dont that leave a white mark on the base?

[Tojurub]

I found regular wood glue works just fine. I use a brush to apply the glue at the spots on the base where I would like to have grass. The wood glue dries clear and it also contracts a little bit, which lifts the grass so it stands up. After I'm done dunking it into the grass I hold the figre upside down and tap with my fingernail on the bottom of the base. That also leads to some grass standing up.

[Griff]

I read about that on another site / forum... holding the mini upside down and taping it that is.

Also, when you guys paint the glue to the base, does water get the glue out of the bristles properly? It's not that I want to preserve the brush for painting also, but it seems like I'm not getting the glue out of the bristles completely, and thus the brush won't be good painting glue on bases again.

[Indigo]

Not with mine it hasn't.

[Grundgen]

I use toothpicks for the glue mostly...just dip it in and kind of smear it along...then you can either just break the end off (when the glue dries) and use it next time, toss it, or find some creative way to incorporate it into scenery.

[BlanchPrez]

I do what Norse suggested myself, works great.

As for the brush, I put a dab of glue on the base, then dip the brush in water and use it to paint the glue on the base, effectivly giving me a watered down PVA glue on the base. Works great, and I have no trouble using water to get the glue off the brush. Of course, I don't paint anything but glue with this brush, but it still works as a brush this way.

Chris

[Odin]

I use Weldbond on any pieces that need to be glued that aren't plastic. i also use a brush to spread it and then quickly put it in a cup of water to soak for about 5 minutes. That basically dissolves the glue in the bristles.

[Snorri]

I just use a old GW brush with no hairs, works just as well.

[Orogen]

I use toothpicks as well, works just fine and with the pointed end you can actually get the grass into areas like under shoes etc.

Another thing Ive seen but havent really used much is inking the grass with brown. Makes the ground look more "dirty" but does not muck up the color of the grass.

Cheers
Orogen