AC&Y - Litchfield to Spencer OH

[Sokramiketes]

Another thread had mentioned how very thin plastics would curl when introduced to certain adhesives; I wonder if Zox might weight in to speak about his reference about this? I like Skibbe's corn but it's so darn thick all the way up the stalk and I was wondering if there's some way to 'shred' thin styrene to stalk leaf size/shape; prime it and curl it with an adhesive; and get it to (easily) adhere to wire - and ready for a quick paint when dry. Thus, providing a thin stalk, and long thin curled leaves (or whatever the technical term is), in a quick mass produce-able way. Probably a long shot but just thinking out loud.

I think you're talking about the thick stalk of JasonCorn?

Here's SkibbeCorn:

[C855B]

...keep in mind that even on the small plot I've done there are nearly 200 individual stalks. ...

Remind me that if I plan on modeling Nebraska, then it better damn well be winter or spring scenes. 

[unittrain]

Hey in the one picture it looks like some local juvenile delinquents put some signs across the track! 

[SAH]

Trimmed the tops to knock down the spikes.  Trimmed between the rows to thin things out a bit.  Hit it with a spray bomb - sage green - and then a flat finish.  The color was not quite right to me so I dusted the top with gold and gray chalk.  Aside from adding the tassel, which may help better define the rows, I think I'm done fooling with the corn plants.


Here's a view from the other direction for perspective on the whole scene.


Several years ago when Skibbe corn hit the scene Mike told me it was time consuming and tedious work.  My variety might be less so but the results are probably not as good either.  Trade-offs. 

[sirenwerks]

I think you're talking about the thick stalk of JasonCorn?

Here's SkibbeCorn:

Ahh... sorry about that, chief. I live near one of the University of Maryland test farms - yes, it's still an ag school, mostly mad scientist ag though now. The corn there always reminds me of velvet when it's at peak, like something out of a Grant Wood painting. If I ever attempt to model corn fields I will likely go insane(r) trying to recreate that lushness.

But I digress - SAH, the fern corn looks bitchin'. Got tractor?

[GaryHinshaw]

This looks pretty nice Steve (better than I could do, for sure), but I don't immediately think 'corn' when I see it; maybe because I'm used to seeing corn in such well defined rows, like this:



If it were me, I would be tempted to suggest rows by sprinkling some very fine straw-colored ground foam in rows over the top of these stalks.  I would do it by cutting a mask of rows, resting it over the patch, spraying on some adhesive (or hairspray) and sprinkling foam over the whole lot.  It might be cheesy, but it might help add definition.

Overall, I really like the way this scene is shaping up!

Cheers,
Gary

[SAH]

I looked at the "corn field" search images on-line before I started.  There were the beautiful rows, which always capture a photographers attention, and some that were not so beautiful.  Search "rows of corn" and some videos come up showing corn being harvested.  Definitely not pretty rows - Very crowded.  I agree with Gary though - Adding a gold tassel highlight on top might clinch the "corn field" image.  I had not thought of using a mask.  Perhaps this weekend I'll steal some time to play.

Steve

[wcfn100]

Definitely not pretty rows - Very crowded.

I would guess most of those were still pretty rows, but from any other angle you don't see it.

Jason

[wm3798]

Looks about like Delmarva sweet corn!


I agree, you've got to be looking at just the right angle to get the rows, but like so many things we model, if you don't do the oddity, it doesn't look normal...

(now that I look at the larger image, I think that might be sorghum...  Either way, the rows aren't always apparent.)

Lee

[sirenwerks]

Looks about like Delmarva sweet corn!

We call that pig corn on the O'Malley side of that water thing the bridge crosses over.   

[SAH]

I came up with what I thought was a foolproof way of adding tassels to the corn rows.  Natural bristle paint brushes.  Already in a row, just glue and cut the bristles from the brush handle a bit at a time.  Like many of my quick and easy ideas, this one turned out to work not so good.  There are clearly some possibilities in the method.  The execution left something to be desired I'm afraid.  I messed with it for a bit in an attempt to salvage the effort but to no good effect.





And so it turns out Lee's comment about harvesting the corn and still having the furrows left behind was quite prescient.



Oddly enough it doesn't look too bad.  A little clean up work and a harvested field might result.  I learned a lot and will try again.

Oh, and for the record - 195 plants in this small plot

Steve

[Dave Schneider]

How about trying a light mist of glue/matte medium followed by short static grass application. Maybe there would be issues with conductivity.
This has been a great thread to follow. Very inspirational.

Best wishes, Dave

[C855B]

Yes, great thread. One suggestion, from having 150 acres of corn in my backyard... depending on your modeling era, you may not need the corrugated. Modern no-till methods do not have furrows. They basically just do a light turnover of the surface as part of the nitrogen infusion and then run the seed drill a couple of weeks later. First rain levels the surface to perfectly flat.

[SAH]

I'd seriously considered trying static grass Dave.  I too thought conductivity might be a problem.  A bigger drawback was that I didn't think I could define the rows very well.  A light dusting might have been all it needed though.

I'm modeling early 1960's so furrows were probably the norm.  I'm wondering if I shouldn't space them out a bit more.  Maybe 6' between the rows instead of 4'.  Trim and paint the stalks BEFORE I plant them.  I like the natural bristle tassel idea.  If I can come up with a quick way to attach it as the stalk is installed there would be no guess work as far as straight rows go.

Thanks for the comments and ideas. 

[SAH]

The corn finale.
From right to left:  An unmodified branch from the plastic fern.  A trimmed and painted branch - Trim with scissors and paint with Rustoleum Painters Touch Satin Oregano.  Gold coarse ground foam.  White glue for adhesive.  I used trweezers to apply the foam.


Same technique for planting the rows.  I did two rows and then added the foam for the tassle.


So now I've planted 200 corn plants, for the second time  , and counted 300 more potential plants still left on the fern.  700 plants for $7.99 retail.  I got mine for 40% off.  Such a bargain for such quality hobby time        Anyway, for what it is, it now reads "corn field" to me.  Enough corn planting.


Oh did I mention I also ballasted the track and finished off the curve scene?  Too consumed by corn I guess.


For those who must see to see the rows to believe 


Here's the view coming off the Spencer siding East switch.  The little trees are supposed to be the 4-5' scrubs you find after an area has been cleared but the scrub trunk wasd not removed.  Weed trees I call them.  The modeled specimens are the finest ends of a Supertree with ground foam applied.  It will do until I can come up with something better. 


Thanks for looking.

Steve