Ever used this stuff?

Lizard,

The stuff you have sounds like the moss I picked up at the Rag Shop (a crafts store chain where I buy a lot of my dio materials--much lower in price than the hobby shops specializing in scale models, especially for things like brushes, pastels, oil paints, etc. They also have a good selection of clay and balsa scraps). This particular brand of moss is from someplace called Birdsview Farms out of Waldron, AR, and is called simply "Decorative Moss". I assume it is designed for wreaths and flower arrangements, but I have used it on a couple of dios with good results. It airbrushes well and seems to be very versatile. I actually have used two different kinds: one is more root-like in appearance, and the other is longer strands of leafy material. The former works well for bushes and low shrubs, whereas the other is more uniform and suitable for making trees. And you're right; it is very cheap. I think I got mine at about $2.00 for 108 cubic inches. Will probably last me years.

DocTG

Well then if it can last that long I am sure it would be fine on the shelf for a few years.

It works pretty well. Check out the dried flower section in the craft shop fro different types of mosses and flowers. Some of them are perfect for making scale flowers and ground cover. There is a type of grass they use that makes perfect scale ferns as well.

If it makes you feel any better about using it, the York and Coppergate archeological digs as well as the Thames River waterfront and a few others have all yielded pouches with mosses and lichens in them as well as shoes with mosses and grasses stuffed up into the toes. Wouldn't seem like much but most of these date from the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. So I'd make a safe bet that they'd last at least as long as some of your dioroamas.

Mike

Thanks guys. I saw the same stuff at hobby lobby today for about $3 a bag. Next time I'm in there gonna pick some up and give it a try.

this moss is basically the same thing that the railroad moss is. thererfore, it will lighten in color a little when it dries, it also may srink, but extremely slightnly. my suggestion would to be to leave the amout desired in the open air for a few weeks or so and see it if noticibly changes colors that are not what you desire. but i used some of this reath stuff my mom bought me from walmart and it workes pretty good.
-mark

I have used it in some instances the oldest one that I can recall being 4 years ago and still looks great

I used it a long time ago when I had a model rail road. It's good stuff, you should like it.
mark956

Thanks guys I'll have to give the stuff a try when ever I get my next dio going. Got the idea for it just got to get the time for it.

I use it all the time for trees, bushes, shrubs etc. You can use it as it is, just paint it green or you can paint it brown (to simulate branches), spray glue on and sprinkle coloured saw dust on (green or even a mixture of brown, reds and yellows for an autumn effect).

We have it in the woods so I use a lot of it.

I don't think we have any growing around here, not that I have seen anyway and I have gotten pretty far back in the woods fighting wildfires. The stuff I saw was'nt but about $3 for a huge bag so would'nt hit the wallet to bad.

If you found it out in the woods, it's probably "Lichen". It's really high in the train departments. I've picked garbage bags full out in the woods and used it on dioramas. You can re-use it even after it's dried by simply soaking it in water. Hot water works best and softens it quicker. I foung mine in sheets and had to break it up for foliage. The type in hobby shops has been treated and stays soft almost indefinitely. You can't beat Mother Nature's price!

Thanks Robert did'nt think about spraying it. Some of what I saw would make great bushes and ground cover. I think some of the more stringy looking could be good camo for vehichles.

Give it a try .... just spray it with a clear cote and it should prevent any rotting.