What do you think?

[matrixone]

I am planning to make another section to add to my photobase later this year and have a sample of a new product I might use for some of the groundwork, its a multi-colored grass matt, here are some test pics taken today using that grass matt and wonder what others might think of it when used as a base for aircraft models. This stuff is VERY expensive and I am not sure if its worth it to buy more of it.









The first two pics are of 1/48 scale models, the others are 1/72 scale.

Matrixone

[dogsbody]

I like the look, but it makes it  look like the aircraft are parked out in the weeds. Would not grass runways be shorter?  For areas alongside paved runways and around the back of hangers, I think it would be great, especially for 1/48 and larger kits.

My 2 cents.

[cthulhu77]

If it is that expensive, I'd say no. It looks awfully fuzzy, rather than grassy.

[Maverick]

To be honest Matrix, I tend to agree that it's too long by half for anything airfield related, but I could see it's use perhaps in 35th scale dios.  It's got that tussocky sort of look to it that I think would look ok (perhaps in a darker shade) for the Falkands or the like.

Regards,

Mav

[AeroplaneDriver]

I think it looks incredibly realistic, particularly in 1/48 scale.  But then again I have a theory that you dont build miniatures at all, but live on a secret abandoned airbase with a collection of prisitine German warbirds.

[HOG]

The contrast between the dry grass and verdant scrub seems a bit to extreme to me. It dosn`t have the natural look of a drought to explain the dry grass and a lack of wilt to the other but more suggests a selective weed killer treatment.
Also the two colours are constant in shade and need breaking up if you do use it.
Gary

[Mossie]

I think it could be of some use.  Scrub & moorland can take on that kind of look in the winter, especially where they are open to the wind.  Also, on a temporary airfield, you may get some aircraft parked out in the rough for dispersal.  It looks better in 1/48 than 1/72 & I think 1/32 or 1/35 like Mav mentioned would be a better bet.  The effect may look better in b&w than colour, especially slightly out of focus?

Rather than an airfield, one application may be a forced landing dio.  Another may be for Special Ops aircraft like the Lysander or Storch & those aircraft able land & take off on rough surfaces.  Maybe an excuse to try out the new Tamiya Fi-156?

[Brian da Basher]

I like the look of it but I agree that it works much better with larger scale models.

Brian da Basher

[PanzerWulff]

"What do think?"
I try not to it gets in the way of real freaky whiffing

I love the bacdrop I wish I could make one up as well as that
"Panzer"

[John Howling Mouse]

Well, my 8-yr-old had this to say (I quote):

"Dad, I think it's cool how some of your friends can make such a good background that looks so real and, yet, they still make their model stand out so much because it is so good."

Straight from the mouths of babes...

Me?  I think it would look very good for derelict airframes that actually were left out to waste away at the side of some airfield....  hmmmmm.....another derelict model....

[matrixone]

Thanks for the input guys,

The product is made by Busch and is called ''Edge of Forest Grass'' and the size of the sections are only a little bit bigger than a sheet of notebook paper....the price for this is $37.99.

I don't think I will invest in any more of this stuff, there is just a little too much contrast between the dried out areas and the fresh green looking areas to look that realistic.
The tall uncut grass effect was what I wanted to achieve, I really like those photographs in my reference books that show the very worn out and beat up German airplanes that barely survived the war that were photgraphed in the same spot where the German pilot surrendered (usually in an open field) and I would like to get that same type of effect in my model pictures.




Matrixone

[John Howling Mouse]

Might sound weird but....you could airbrush a dusting coat over the too-light portions just enough to blend it in a bit.  I realized with my own (first) diorama that the "grass" shines too much so, next time, I will lay out the strands and hit them with Testors Acryl matte clear (phenomenal stuff).

[nev]

Yeah, I agree with Baz, it needs some pigments or dusting of paint to blend it in a bit more.  Right now it looks a bit leapord-spotty in places (but still good)

[BlackOps]

My first thought was it looks pretty good but it's a bit contrasty. I'd try brushing some pastel dust or maybe a bit of light airbrushing as suggested above to help it look with a more natural blend. I think it's workable, but if your concerned about the price I'd say what you had before seemed to work just fine (but it is nice to have options). 

Of course if you leave it out in the weather for a couple of months I'm sure it would help make it look more natural     

[matrixone]

Thanks again for your input!

I will use the section of grass matt as it is, I am concerened about spraying any type of paints or flat coats on it because it may cause some clumps to form on the surfaces.

In the catalog where I had first seen this product the picture of it did not have as high a contrast between the dark and light areas, thats why I wanted to try it out but after seeing what its really like I am not that happy with it. So the search goes on for a more realistic looking piece of ground work for my photobase....

Matrixone