Look what the cat dragged in...
Sorry I've been away so long guys, but I just haven't been working on the layout at all since I hurt my knee at the end of November. For those of you who frequent My Dream/Nightmare layout, you already know that I'm helping to present a clinic on static grass this Saturday at our NMRA division meeting. True to my word (and that promise motivated me to get downstairs and do it) I went downstairs, and tried it for myself. It sounds intimidating, but it's really fun and easy, and I was pleasantly surprised by the results.
Before, I get into it, there was one picture still in the camera that you need to see. This is how I messed up my knee. I can now see that it was the white cord from the lamp, that was literally my downfall. Owwwww.
Static grass... Start with some plain white glue.
This is my homemade applicator, made from an electric fly swatter, and a kitchen strainer. All you do is remove the swatter head, and you'll find a red and black wire. Red wire to the strainer. Black wire is extended, and an alligator clip is soldered on. I accidentally glued the activation button during construction, so I just pop a battery in and out. Works. Total cost $11, and that was only because the strainer was in a set of three.
Here we have the Noch Grassmaster 2.0. It takes a 9V battery and comes with three different screen sizes. Retail price $189.95 bought on sale at Scenic Express $159.95.
I put a nail in the layout to act as a ground electrode. A little glue on the layout, and a spritz of water, which I spread with a paint brush. Using some short 2mm fibers and my homemade unit, I got this. For O scale, 2mm is really short, it almost looks like a manicured fairway or putting green.
This patch was done with the Noch. Not a lot of difference.
Now I switched to 10mm fibers. This was done with my $11 special.
Then I tried the Noch. I couldn't get the fibers to stand up, like they did with el cheapo. Maybe my 9V was dying. My wife said it looked like mown hay. I agree.
Conclusion: Cheapo on the left, Noch on the right. The homemade works as well or perhaps even better than the expensive unit. Why??? Theory: The fly swatter may actually generate a larger static charge, causing the fibers to stand up better (the way they're supposed to).
What do you need to know to teach a dog tricks? A: More than the dog.
Ready for Saturday. Bring it!
