Using a series of materials... work continues on getting some foliage down.
As you saw in the last update, I had done some static grass applications on the grassy bank. Now I have started to grass around the mainline itself. I am undecided on how far I want to go with greenery around the mainline. I know that it is fairly uncommon for there to be a lot of growth next to a mainline due to workers maintaining it. However, given that I don't have a very big layout, I may just take a little creative license and allow some maintained and out-of-control areas for my own pleasure.
I also took this opportunity, as this is the largest area to date that I have applied static grass, to start experimenting with other soft powder/foam materials to add contrast and an otherwise patchy look so that it doesn't look like an overgrown golf course. (all one colour and uniformity). I am pretty pleased with how it came out here.
Some (large) tufts were also added initially too long so that I could trim down after it had set to the desired length.
As you can see here after I toned it down and added some additional "Fluff" (still experimenting with this method) to make a rather nice looking growth. All be it rather out of focus...
I then moved my focus to something more out of my comfort zone... I really wanted to create a creeping vine-type bush. I have been playing around with bushes for quite some time trying to get the 'look' outside of using seafoam. My last trip to our local hobby shop turned up some dried grass. Whilst I feel that it is probably closer suited to a larger scale for dried grass tufts or even perhaps a wheat field, I wanted to give it a go.
Done with the same method of gluing in a tuft initially, I then shoved a ball of this 'Poly Fibre' into the top and begun layering with other material(s). It looks OK but, not totally convinced with this one.
This did, however, give me the idea of just using the fiber for the creeping vine that I mentioned above! Could this work? I will let you be the judge.
You will see that I also laid some runs of cable. I did plan on using some actual wire for this but, it didn't fall to the surface as I would have hoped. It was either two ridged or, would require so much work to make it look as if it was meant to be that I chose an alternative of just using some black thread, soaked in a watered-down glue mix to lay down and let the various undulations take care of the rest.
I would still like to add a little crossing here for the signal box workers to cut across the lines here. You can see where I have continued a trodden path next to the bush at the bottom that should simulate a look of use once I finally commit to actually making a crossing pathway.
For prosperity, here are the materials I have used for the various bushes, etc. very basic but, with practice, could yield some interesting foliage.
Next post to come, I have finally managed to track down and start playing with some seafoam trees! How exciting! Like many things, seafoam trees have been in short supply for some time now and I somehow got my hands on a box! Beautiful...
Cheers,
Rich