Modifying my Static Grass Applicator

Discussion in 'Scratchin' The Surface' started by Gary, Mar 15, 2020.

  1. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Some of our member here will remember the static grass applicator I built many, many years ago. In a matter of fact, it was prior to this forum starting ! My applicator was made from PVC pipe and fittings, fly wire and a negative ion generator, a momentary push button and powered originally by a 9V battery, later to a various voltage transformer.


    No having a layout that fits snug into the corners of a small room, I found that it is damn difficult to apply grass to the corners of the layout due to the diameter of the applicator head. I need to apply grass to the corners but I can not pull the layout out from the walls.

    So, what to do...??

    Simple answer is to modify the applicator with removable heads. But I hear you say that there is a permanent wire connected between the negative ion generator and the mesh..! o_O

    A quick trip down the road to Jaycar and the hardware, I came home with all the bits I need to modify the original applicator...

    A piece of mesh (stainless steel), a 50mm PVC coupling and a 50mm PVC end cap, 2 x male RCA plugs and 1 x female RCA plug. I already had a length of 50mm PVC pipe left over from scratch building grain silos.


    First of all, the end cap needs the blank removed, leaving an inside rim for the mesh to sit on. This was drilled for a starting hole and then with a copping saw was used to remove the bulk, followed by some sanding. The mesh was cut to size with scissors.


    Take a male RCA plug, pull apart and solder an insulated wire (100mm in length) to this. Refit the rubber sleeve. Now strip the other end of the wire approximately 12mm in length. Twist this and feed through a hole in the mesh to one side, loop the wire and feed back through. Twist this wire together and solder in place.


    This shall look like this now, with a 50mm length of 50mm diameter PVC pipe placed into the cap. This piece of PVC pipe will secure the mesh in place quite tightly as it is pressed all the way in.


    No add the coupling to this and as can be seen, the RCA plug sits proud of the new mesh head.


    Next is to cut the wire that runs from the negative ion generator to the mesh on the original unit. Strip the end of wire on the mesh head end and secure the male RCA plug, same as the 50mm head.

    Strip the end of wire that now hangs free from the negative ion generator and solder on the female RCA plug.

    What we have now is two different sized heads that are removable. :D


    So, does it work ?? You betcha ! This is from the 50mm head...


    Now I can get onto grassing the back corners of my layout ! :thumbs:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  2. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    Brilliant stuff Gary and a practical cost effective solution too I might add. I saw a static box thingy once for adding leaves to trees, apparently it works in the same way but the material/scatter/flock is placed in the flat top of this box and an electrode connected to the tree armature, when switched on and the armature brought within range all the flock / leaf stuff flies off the box top and sticks to the branches of the pre glued armature... All very clever I thought but expensive to purchase.:scratchchin:
     
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  3. Mark4mm

    Mark4mm Guest

    Gary that’s a fine looking static grass applicator and the best bit it’s hand built with a big cash saving.:thumbs:
     
  4. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    We have some of the bits ready.. I’ll soon be making one myself!
     
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  5. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Thanks Paul. :thumbs: I too have seen that reverse applicator. Can't remember if it was WWS or another supplier... :scratchchin:

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  6. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Originally the cost was around the $28.00AUD, or about £15.00. The additional piece I made cost about $7.00 AUD (£4.00)...

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  7. Bernie

    Bernie Full Member

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    Instructions how to make a static grass applicator by Luke Towan. very impressive modeller with great presentation skills. I am at base board stage, but will try this when I get to the decorative stage.
     
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  8. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Yes, that is identical to the way I made my applicator. Many years ago, I drew up plans for these and they were handed out at various exhibitions I attended. Some of our members here my remember when I posted these plans on YMRC, many years ago....


    Cheers, Gary.
     
  9. Bernie

    Bernie Full Member

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    Thanks Gary, this looks very easy to do, sometimes a picture is better than a video that one has to continually stop at each stage. And as the rule goes, I actually threw out a length of 50mm PVC yesterday. :facepalm: No where ready for static grass yet, and am trying hard to not keep stuff in case it comes handy. I have stored that length of pipe for about 20 years. Regards Bernie.
     
  10. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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  11. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    Just a quick addendum to Garys build, when I built mine here in the UK, I couldn't find the negative ion generator type that he used, the one I bought had two outlet wires with carbon brushes on the ends. I cut those off and stripped the wire back about 10mm and twisted them together before soldering the positive wire to them. Works a treat!

    Cheers, Pete.
     
  12. Davoetype

    Davoetype Full Member

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    Oatley are quite reliable and are more than happy to post to overseas destinations.

    Cheers

    and happy modelling

    Richard
     
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  13. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    Finally made it over the last few days and this morning gave it a go...

    I’m not sure it’s come out as well as I expected.. :scratchchin:
    19E48613-93C4-4CCE-B0B3-F4CF6AB88A68.jpeg
    The base ready with the glue on it. Under the glue is dried tea leaves for the earth on brown paint on polystyrene - I have made a small water feature using some clear varnish layered.

    F731907A-2E48-4A24-A6E3-835ECD6DDAAA.jpeg
    The home made shaker..

    77C9E8D0-F61A-4E2A-8CEB-79D4E9EF74BC.jpeg
    And after.. 4mm fibres..

    Thoughts?
    Andy
     
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  14. York Paul

    York Paul Staff Member Moderator

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    That's really good Andy and the finish is even... let it dry then spray some adhesive lacquer adding ground scatter and the jobs a good 'un:tophat::tophat::tophat::tophat::thumbup:
     
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  15. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    i hadn’t thought of that!

    3D00530C-1EBA-4185-AC0D-EFBC62EBD48A.jpeg 7B43C823-E37A-4E2A-B64A-59BA640EFE97.jpeg

    ideally I wanted it twice as high... around 8-9mm not 4mm but our friends at WWS only do 4 as Max.
     
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  16. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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    Looks good to me Andy. Like Paul said, you can spray with adhesive lacquer (or hair spray !) and add more scatters, or for that matter, more static grass. Just remember grass is never even in height, unless you own a scale lawn mower !

    Cheers, Gary.
     
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  17. Walkingthedog

    Walkingthedog Full Member

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    Looks excellent. Should the applicator be standing in a wet sink?:D
     
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  18. jakesdad13

    jakesdad13 Staff Member Moderator

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    As Gary says, if you want to have taller grass, spray with cheap unscented hair spray then go over again with the static grass, if you spray high spots and go over it again you will get a good variation in height plus if you use an Autumn grass, much lighter, you will get a died off variation.

    Pete.
     
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  19. Andy_Sollis

    Andy_Sollis Staff Member Moderator

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    All good ideas...

    don’t worry, the sink wasn’t in use at the time.
     
  20. Gary

    Gary Wants more time for modelling.... Staff Member Administrator

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