Vermissa Valley - PRR 1960s

[Hornwrecker]

John and I were discussing making cattails yesterday.  I did a test run, making a few tufts a few minutes ago

This one is Heki 2mm winter grass with Silfor 4mm late summer applied later.  Trying to capture them in spring.



This one is Heki 2mm winter grass with Silfor 4mm autumn applied second.  Trying to get a winter look for them.



They're still wet, so I cant attempt to paint some brown tips on the flowering spikey thingees (WTF are they called?) on the winter ones.  I might try applying the 4mm first to see if that makes a difference.  Also, I'm thinking 6mm might be better for the tall thingees or whatever.

Anybody out there got any ideas or suggestions?

[chicken45]

Plastic rods and nailpolish, but those may be more of a summer cattail. The MR Scenery by the Seasons book has a chapter devoted to lily pads, pond scum, and cattails. I'll bring it next time.

[Hornwrecker]

Maybe I can chop up some of that WS horse hair stuff for a few longer spikes and use the grassinator.  If that works, I can shave George for huge supply of it.  I think he's the correct coloration for winter cattails.  I'm sure he'll shed enough soon for enough supply.  Never thought I'd be thinking of using dog hair for scenicing.

I didn't know that book existed.  Look forward to seeing it.

[eric220]

The Vermissa Valley was pleased to host a gathering of local a$$hats and SPFs today.  They are pictured here holding up a piece of ceremonial bacon.



From L to R: chevyconvertible, Hornwrecker, Lemosteam, and chicken45.  Photo taken by JoeyUboats (lurker).

Not to hijack the thread, but are any of you  's going to make it to the RailBQ?

[Lemosteam]

Bob, I was thinking of dipping the cattail tips in glue then rolling it in your tobacco to make the brown top.  Add a little white tuft on top and go push the end into the brown grass tufts. 

Eric I know nothing of the RailBq at this poit, but as much as I would love to attend, I don't think I could manage to get it onto The Scheduler's books...   

[chicken45]

John looks like a giant next to Bob!

Sadly, I won't be able to go. It's pretty too far for me in my current state of noob fatherhood. Plus, I already committed to being Darth Vader for 2 Toledo Mudhens games (May the 4th be with you, har har). Maybe I'll throw out the first pitch this year!

I also feel like I have to preemptively defend myself on my L1s. It wasn't in a state of completion at the time of those photographs.    I know it's not supposed to be glossy.

[DKS]

Anybody out there got any ideas or suggestions?

http://www.eurorailhobbies.com/erh_detail.asp?mn=15&ca=31&sc=N&stock=NO-14608

[Hornwrecker]

http://www.eurorailhobbies.com/erh_detail.asp?mn=15&ca=31&sc=N&stock=NO-14608

Thanks David, those look great for summer, but John is doing "in the bleak midwinter", and is probably going to want a few linear feet of them, so static grass is the way to go.   I measured the tufts today, and they only come in at 2 scale ft tall.  I'm going to cut some WS horse hair to about 5-6' for the seed spikes, and try gluing in individually for one tuft, then try using it with the grasssinator to see if it will work.  I'm thinking for early spring, making the midwinter ones with just a bit of 4mm green in them to show new growth.

I'm normal sized.  You guys are the freaks.

[chicken45]

"in the bleak midwinter"

Holst. Nice. Nobody ever gets that reference when I make it.

[Hornwrecker]

Here are the test cattails.  I added the tall stuff in by hand and glue with a many 0000 brush, brown stuff is ground leaves passed through a tea strainer.



I used the XF ground leaves, still too coarse for this.  I'll have to grind some up in a mortar and pestle for the next test, which will all be done with the grassinator.  I also tried brown paint on the one without the seedheads, but the paint wouldn't stick to the WS horse hair.

[Hornwrecker]

Here's winter cattail take two, with leaves ground down to dust.



I think the glue needs to be diluted a bit, although it does make it look like the seed heads have been falling apart most of the winter.  I'll try the all static grass way later this evening.

[Lemosteam]

Diggin that Bob!  I can just see a five hundred foot long ditch filled with those!

[Hornwrecker]

Diggin that Bob!  I can just see a five hundred foot long ditch filled with those!

I can picture you making that.

I tried the WS horse hair cut to about 1/2" in the grassinator, very few of them stood upright.  Either we need more power, which is never a bad thing, or try a synthetic like Silfor 6mm or longer if they make it... or you can add the horse hair in by hand if you''re feeling especially masochistic.  Better thee than me.

[Hornwrecker]

Enough with cattails.  Did a bit of work on the forest floor by the WBCRR yard.  Pulled up the trees (planted for  gathering) and added some dark green foam and Heki olive leaves as well as different shades of dead leaves.  I wanted to add some wild flowers, but didn't have a suitable shade of blue.  I remembered I had a blue sponge, so I cut it up and ran it through the blender many times, and lots of sifting.  I got a shade that's pretty close to virginia bluebells.



Should lighten up a bit when the hair spray dries.  Hopes it will look like what I'm trying to depict.

[Lemosteam]

Looks great Bob!

Whilst visiting, managed to take a few shots of my two kitbash faves one with Josh's L1s above:







My sincerest thanks to Bob for his hospitality, kindness and generosity.  Josh, Joey U-boats and Walt were also a pleasure.