scratchbuilding haystacks?

Well, you could make a mound or whatever you would call it out of plaster, then you could lay maybe wisks off of a broom.

How about mini shredded wheat cereal? When I was young I used to eat a brand called "muffets". They're probably a little over-scale, but if you cut them carefully, they'll have that "just bundled" look.
Good luck, keep us posted!

Bismarck

do you mean the heaped up kinds or tied-in-a-rectangular prism kind?
for those, I would just cut off the bristles off of a cheap 98 cent walmart paintbrush and either heap them up and drizzle glue on them or heap them in a rectangular prism and tie it with some thread. the ones I have are thick enough to be 1/35.
just an idea. hope this helps

jin, the hay stacks in Hollond were in huge piles. Just a warning if you use the cereal idea, watch out for bugs.

A_Drust;

The type of haystack you are looking to "build" would actually be a mound of cuttings in a heap. As such the easiest way to model this is.

1. Find a styrofoam half-sphere (Check dried flower arrangement section of Wal Mart)
2. Secure on to the groundwork with Elmers or similar water based glue
3. Over spray the entire thing with a dark brown or black.
4. Cover with a diluted mix of water and white glue
5. Attach "hay" can be cut from brush bristles or I use cheap doll makers hair (Wal Mart again in the craft section)
6. Attach "hay" in layers and secure each layer on top of the other until you reach the desired look.
7. Overspray lightly with deep yellow to start
8. Overspray lightly with light yellow next
9. Dry- Brush with a lighter mix
10. Overspray with a Dull-Cote Spray (Testors etc.)

Have fun. It works out really well and quite quickly.

Cheers;

Gregory

Hi about the haystacks you could try this, its made by woodland scenics product code (FG171 field grass natural straw)& as the name states it is a straw colour. You can buy it from railway shops or shows.Hope this helps you. Alan

hmmmm

sonic_boom Whats up ?Why the. It cant be that bad

Another alternitive for covering the mound is available if you have a cat or dog. It's time for a brushing. A golden retriever or teir abound would require no dyeing. Light colored hair and a tea bag would do just fine.