I think DrWayne has done static grass. From my recollection, you need a pool of wet stuff -- diluted glue -- that you can stick one electrode in. So this may man the grass goes on as the step after the basic dirt.
Really, after doing that bridge, mere vegetation shouldn't be a problem.

The static grass would need to go on after the dirt as you mention. I'm thinking that it wouldn't be solid, though. Will do static grass in spots, and then grass clumps and coarse foam and clump foliage in the other spots.

ocalicreek Wrote:Why? Why does it have to be the funnest, I mean? There's a reason (or two) that many layouts never make it past the 'Plywood Pacific' stage. The reason most often given is that folks are afraid of doing a poor job on scenery - based on what they see in magazines & online, naturally. But I think there's another reason less often quoted; that some folks have so much fun building benchwork, laying track and yes, even wiring, that they reach a point where operations become possible and are perfectly content to stop there with no interior motivation to scenic a square inch. Getting trains running is the visionary goal; scenery is secondary or perhaps will always look better imagined than realized, so they think.

You are proving even by your early work, as is Steve with his shelf layout, and others, that really great scenery isn't that hard if you're willing to experiment and tear it out if necessary to start again. I think you'll do just fine - as long as you're happy with it!

Galen

Galen, there is another reason why scenery may not get done. I remember my first layout. I built it in a single car garage in my house in North Long Beach before I moved to Lakewood. I had the track down and wired for over a year before I sold the house, dismantled the layout and moved. It never got scenery because I went into that garage every night planning to do some scenery. Every time I went in I decided to run a train just to see how it looked. 2 or 3 hours later I was still watching the train run and hadn't started any scenery when it was time to go to bed!

My ion generator came in yesterday. I'll build the grassblaster per DocWayne's tutorial this weekend. Hopefully my scnery materials and static grass will arrive today or tomorrow, and I'll begin trying some things. Really, this scenery stuff can't be all that hard... even us mere mortals can probably make a go of it.

I'll be observing intently from the wings! 8-)

Got the GrassBlaster built last night, but my scenery stuff did not get here, so no static grass to giv'er a go. Did alot of work in the layout room, mostly carving foam in the area between the two bridges, and also worked on the water under the bridge. Also noticed that one of the bents was installed out of alignment, so I cut around it with a knife, pulled the foam up with the bent, moved it over a touch, and glued it back down. Perhaps tomorrow I will get the last two bents in, andthen I can work on the horizontal timbers between the bents.

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I have one of those ion generators too. I have to build one of those grass blasters myself. Nice job on yours.

The bridge scene is looking good too!

Gary:
Did you know that Woodland Scenics sells a tub of stuff that turns into foam? looks like plaster and thins with water.

Tetters, thanks for the compliments. The GrassBlaster took about 30 minutes to build - really simple. Did you get the 12 volt generator or the 120 volt model? All I could get was the 120 volt model, and the 7500 volt output has a common connection to the white neutral wire - not quite as safe as the 12 volt set-up, but really not an issue as long as the "polarity" of the 120 volt receptacle and the wiring is observed. If the polarity is backwards, you would end up with the "alligator clip/nail in the scenery" probe being at 120 volts potential - a shock hazard to the user.

David, what WS stuff are you talking about?

I got the 12 volt generator. I picked it up over a year ago. It's sitting in my electronic tidbits parts bin.

Progress from today: Middle bents put in, bayou painted and glossed, bridge set on top, and trains run across. Still have to do the handrails and some touch-up painting, and of course, the scenery, but may put this off for now and start on another bridge project in another area.

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Gary,

Great work on the bridge!!
I would hate to slide down the bank and end up in the bayou
I am really excited to see the trees, brush, grass and other stuff fill in around the bridge.

Gary ... we're going to have to give you a new name ...

How are you enjoying that water technique? The results are quite impressive in photos.

Very cool indeed!