Silflor vs. static grass

[Kerrydel]

I'm just getting back into the hobby after being out a few years. I'm back in the ground foam ground cover techniques, and am not familiar with these two new ideas. I'm wondering if somebody can explain the pluses and minuses are between these two techniques?

Thanks
Kerry

 

[GrampysTrains]

Hi Kerry: Welcome to the forum. I've used Silflor, but not static grass. Silflor fibers are attached to a backing. To use, I pulled tufts apart and used white glue to attach. There are many colors and lengths. From what I've read about static grass, you need a static applicator, either bought or home made, to apply the grass. The applicator makes the grass stand on end. Here's an example of Silflor along one of my streams.DJ.

 

[JeffShultz]

Static Grass is a material used with a static grass applicator - it applies a negative charge to the material as it falls out of the applicator which makes it stand up - that way the end sticks in whatever glue you've put down and it stand up straight.

More info can be found at http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/search/node/static grass - several posts there on the subject. You might find some other topics of use to a returning model railroader as well.

 

[CP9302]

Static grass is generally used to cover larger areas and is shorter than Silflor grasses.

You'll need an applicator for Static grass. They are expensive, but very easy and cheap to build. I have built several myself for under $30 each. Do a search for them and you'll find lots of instructions on how to make them.

 

[Kerrydel]

Anybody have anything to say about the ease of application of one versus the other?

 

[JeffShultz]

I think it's the price vs. convenience thing - the silflor is a lot more convenient, but the static grass is, in the long run, a lot cheaper.

 

[CharlesH.]

You could also go for fake fur....

 

[UP2CSX]

I think the Silflor line, fake fur, or even the Woodland Scenics field grass can all be used effectively to model taller grass and weeds. The only thing I've found that does a credible job (especially in a foreground scene) for short grass, like lawns, freshly cut fields, or pastures, is static grass. Noch makes a static grass applicator but it costs $200. That's the bad news. The good news is that you can make your own if you're the least bit handy for less than $50, depending on fancy you want to get. The Noch static grass itself is a little more reasonable. As Jeff said, if you have large areas to cover, the static grass is probably cheaper in the long run than using Silflor. The Silflor grasses and grass mats are very expensive for the area covered plus they are quite terdious to apply except to small accent areas, like you see in DJ's photo. I think there's an article floating around somewhere about how to make a static grass dispenser out of a battery powered electric fly swatter. If you decide to go with a static applicator, just be careful when using them and make sure the gound isn't going though you. They won't kill you but they are capable of delivering a suprisingly painful shock. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[hminky]

You could also go for fake fur....

Fake fur! Faux fur!

Mine

Eric Larsen using my techniques

Faux fur makes great grass and bushes. Visit:

Faux Fur Grass for Realistic Scenry

Thank you if you visit
Harold