Hi All,

An alternative to Silfor, etc. This site is in German so you may need a translator.

Making Grass Tufts

Hi Fred

I think this has already been featured but I'm not sure if on this site. I've certainly read it in English without using a translation program.He put spots of glue down, and then he connected two leads from his dismantled static charge equipment and connected it to the metal tray (not ali' it doesn't work, must be steel) and it attracted the static grass to those glue spots, once dry slice off and stick in your scene if I remember correctly.

Alan

Alan,
i just read it in german and you are spot on. It is written what you just explained.
Cheers
Claude

I have to say this is the most logical straight forward approach to static grass. The charge is the hardest thing to 'get'. Most people try to put the grass on a diorama then apply static, or charge it as they apply it. This way is one of the most effective looking clumps I've seen.

Now the big question - what is the charging equipment?

Hi Scott

I'm not sure what he used to produce the static charge. Sounds like he used one of the commercially available hand held units you use for "normal" static grass application, dismantled it and used it with relevant leads connected to the tray.

That's my "guessimate" of what he described, I could be wrong. Having said that aren't the units quite expensive to buy, so ripping one apart sounds like a job not for the faint hearted, or if safety is a worry if it's mains connected 240 volts in the UK is a potential killer !!

Alan

Here is a building manuel for a home made electrostatic charger. It is also in english.

http://atw.huebsch.at/Elektronik/Elektrostat.htm

This is an item needed by Railroad modellers and on those sites there should be more infos if needed

Cheers
Claude

Hi Guys,
No need for complicated equipment but just a few things from electronic supply store and about half an hour of work and you have a perfect tool for static grass. I just made one myself for under US$20

Link to "how to"
http://www.009.cd2.com/flyswat2.htm

And a link to demo of what it can do:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYSAK1ezou4

In this case you would need to put the alligator clip on the metal plate.

Cheers,
A

how about the end of a magnet and some painted metal shavings?

I make the same thing with faux fur:



Have a web article from my train days at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/grass_clumps/

Harold