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Questions about Woodland Scenics coarse turf...

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  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Washington
Questions about Woodland Scenics coarse turf...
Posted by uproar on Sunday, November 20, 2005 1:05 AM

Greetings--I've never done anything vaguely resembling a diorama before, and wanted to apply some grass to the resin Luftwaffe Hardstand I posted before: 

http://www.finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/549676/ShowPost.aspx#549676

Now, without really knowing what I was doing, I ran out and bought four different types of Woodland Scenics coarse turf--Light Green, Dark Green, Yellow Grass, and Burnt Grass, as well as a small bag of Yellow "Field Grass", along with scenic cement.  Now I'm not so sure--what I want to recreate is essentially an unkempt grassy field, something like a pasture, near Salzburg in the Spring of 1945 (it's for my Fw-190D9 JV44 "Red 1" fighter)....at least that's what the photos look like in my reference book.  Actually, I don't even think the JV44 utilized wooden hardstands for landing, I think they just used dirt roads, but the plankstand was much more interesting.  My question is, is the "coarse turf" the right stuff for this application?  Or should I use field grass only?  I don't want it to look like a golf course.  The earthen areas of the resin base are very rough and uneven, like real ground.  I was thinking of blending the various types of coarse turf, applying it per the directions, and adding tufts here and there of the "field grass".  Any suggestions for a diorama novice?  Thanks!

 

Rory

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 20, 2005 1:45 AM
Hi there

You have the first step right...you have a reference picture. Do an internet search and find some colour pics of the type of ground you have in mind.
For an unkempt look, static grass will probably work best. You will need some static green grass to mix in with the yellow. That will give a more realistic look than just one colour.
Course turf may even work too. Get an old piece of wood and practice mixtures on that before applying to your dio.

Have fun.


  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 10:29 PM

Rory,

Use a combination. Like you said, you don't want it to look like a gulf course, and it should be uneven. Mix in some dirt, rocks, etc. to make it look good. You can use kitty litter for the rocks, gravel or rubble effect. You can crush the litter to whatever size  you like. I then use inexpensive acrylic water based paint, deluted with water, along with some elmer's white glue to lock everything in place. I also use static grass for better effect. Stay away from really bright colors, they make your work look unreal.  Try to put some clumps in between some of the planks, this shows that grass or weeds have grown between some of the boards. This adds a nice touch to the diorama.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Washington
Posted by uproar on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 10:41 PM
 plastikjunky wrote:

Use a combination. Like you said, you don't want it to look like a gulf course, and it should be uneven. Mix in some dirt, rocks, etc. to make it look good. You can use kitty litter for the rocks, gravel or rubble effect. You can crush the litter to whatever size  you like. I then use inexpensive acrylic water based paint, deluted with water, along with some elmer's white glue to lock everything in place. I also use static grass for better effect. Stay away from really bright colors, they make your work look unreal.  Try to put some clumps in between some of the planks, this shows that grass or weeds have grown between some of the boards. This adds a nice touch to the diorama.

Well, here's what I came up with, using coarse turf in light green, dark green, burnt grass, and yellow grass colors, mixed together and applied unevenly.  I cemented some yellow and burnt grass in the cracks between the planks in places (I suspect such grass would not appear healthy), and sprinkled a little oregano around to look like blown leaves.  I'm going to add a Verlinden Luftwaffe airfield cart or two, maybe some jerry cans, a pilot figure, and perhaps some ground crew figures. How's it look?

 http://www.finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/551886/ShowPost.aspx

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