Ok guys, I’m back. As many of you have said, Life Happens. I’ve moved and am ready to go again.
This is my take on the Backwoods Tie Mill I really enjoyed this kit because that it wasn’t as difficult for me like some of Brett’s other kits that I have done, but in many ways it offered to improve my skills that I needed to work on. Mainly to slow down and take my time, which is my biggest albatross. Sorry, I’m getting off track.
I tried, on one corner, to add some static grass, something I’ve seen on several of dioramas here on the forum, but I think that it’s going to take a LOT more practice to get it right. If anyone can give me some pointers, chime in.
I think that this is one of Brett’s kits that is a perfect kit for either a beginner or a master, for which I seem to fall somewhere between.
And lastly I want to say many thanks to everyone that has posted your visions and tootlige on this kit. And please offer any suggestions and ways I could have done better.
Dwaine, this looks really great! Weathering and placement of all the odds and ends Brett included in this kit is spot on. And the roof is FANTASTIC.
RE: Static grass. I think yours looks good in that corner. Maybe just dry brush on some highlights of more brown/straw tones to make it match the overall feel of your diorama. It’s a little too green in relation to everything else. I’ve also found that sprinkling in a little course or fine foam (burnt grass, turf, etc) helps to break up the monotony of the static grass and some of the other bush type scenery.
Dwayne, I think you have done a fine job on your Backwoods Tie Mill and I can’t see anything that jumps out at me that looks wrong.
With regard to static grass I can tell you what I do and you can decide for yourself if it is something you want to try. For HO scale I use a combination of different sized grasses and different colours all at the same time . I usually use a mix of 1mm, 2mm, 4mm and 7mm length grasses all mixed up in a separate pot . I also include a small amount of straw coloured 12mm length grass. Depending on what applicator you are using the 12mm don’t necessarily work that well.
I mainly use a small detail applicator from a British company called WWScenics ( because I live there), so there might be companies in the US that do something similar. Unless you are doing acres of rolling prairies you don’t need a big applicator as it is harder to get it to work in tight spaces. As for colours of grass , I tend to go for the duller ones like winter grass or dead grass with the addition of some greener spring grass.
It might be a good idea to experiment on pieces of cardboard to get the mix you like. Just remember it doesn’t all have to be the same finish on the whole of the diorama . I tend not to blanket an area with glue, rather I dab it on in patches with a paint brush and build up the finish over a number applications .
You can make patches of longer grass by letting the first pass dry and dab extra glue on to build up the layers. Concentrate putting the grass on areas where there is less foot traffic and avoiding putting too much where there is likely to be more movement. This is one of those areas where less is often more. It is better to add extra grass if you think it needs it.
There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube showing you how other people do it . Some better than others.
Ok, Thanks Aaron, Travis, Ken, Nick, Kevin for the kind words. Travis, looking back on your Logging Camp I think I understand what you and Nick are telling me, so I think it’s time for me to get a piece of foam board and start doing some serious practicing.
An excellent job on the tie mill…I started doing mine then realized I had planned to include it in the close vicinity of my SW sawmill. It’s in the works with it now…As for the grass, Nicks concept is a good one…variety breaks up the colors and texture. Another cheaper way of doing grass…is to buy a bunch of those $1 chip brushes. It will yield pretty tall gras if you need it that tall. Just cut off the bristles…make a small hole in the foam…and a dab of white glue (Elmers works good.) and stick it in the hole…thin some grassy colored green acrylic paint down a wee bit…then lightly apply to the top bottom section of the grass blades. leaving the tops brown.
Thank you Ray and Art Thanks for the idea about the brushes, I thank i have one in the garage i can practice on. And thank you Brett for the comment, always great to get a cudo from the master.
Very nice Dwaine! Your application of sawdust turned out very nice. Not overdone. And the machinery is also nicely done. Great job! Thanks for sharing.
Yes, my first name is Urs. Typical common Swiss name, in particular around the time I was born in the early 60’s. This is really a fun group of modelers on this forum, and watching others’ work is always inspiring. There is always something else to pick out and try.
