CREATING THE SCENERY
1 The landscape profile was created using strips of insulation foam, which is available from hardware stores (or off-cuts can sometimes be found in skips!). An old bread knife is great for cutting the foam to the required size and shape.
2 I’ve found that a hot glue gun offers the quickest way to fix the foam into place. PVA can sometimes take days before the glue sets fully. Watch your fingers, though, as the hot resin can scorch your skin.
3 You might want to consider using a dust mask to avoid inhaling fine foam particles – this is a tip from a builder pal of mine. The foam emits more dust than you might imagine, especially when shaving it to a profile.
4 With the foam secure and the glue cured, a layer of plaster provides a more uniform finish and allows for fine-tuning of the contours. Don’t worry about spreading it perfectly, as the surface can be sanded when fully dry.
5 Even if using static grass, I always prefer to add a base layer of vegetation, using hanging basket liner material. This is cheap and available from garden centres and DIY stores. Big scissors are useful, such as wallpaper scissors.
6 Gently tease the rough fibres away from the backing material to create random clumps. Choosing a liner material that already boasts a natural green shade gives you a headstart!
7 After painting the plaster with earth-coloured emulsion paints, apply an even coating of PVA glue to a small area. The hanging basket liner fibres can be fixed into the glue as it turns tacky. Repeat the process across the landscape.
8 I find it easier to cover areas with smaller pieces of the lining material. Experimentation is recommended, on a small diorama perhaps, so you can see how different amounts of the lining material effects the finished scenery.
9 Once the glue has set, you’ll probably want to trim off excess hanging basket liner before adding static grass. Plucking with fingers and trimming with scissors works a treat, but so do hair clippers!
10 Brush and vacuum away any loose fibres and debris. The next step is to apply static grass. Apply your chosen glue by brush – I’m using Woodland Scenics Static-tac in this instance.
11 Alternatively, you can use an old toothbrush dipped into diluted PVA. Rub the bristles with your thumb to emit a fine, random spray. OK, it’s messy but you won’t crush the fibres. See what works best for you.
12 Use a electrostatic grass applicator to decant a layer of static grass fibres. A mix of different shades and textures is preferable to a single pack of identical fibres. Several layers can be applied if desired, repeating the process.
13 I used Woodland Scenics plastic tree armatures, with the same brand’s Poly Fiber draped over the branches. The Static-tac glue was brushed over this and sprinkled with Woodland Scenics Course Turf and Blended Turf.
14 Plenty of climbing bushes and brambles were created, again using Woodland Scenics Poly Fiber sprayed with cheap hairspray and covered in the same Course Turf and Blended Turf scatter materials. I perform this task in situ.