Adam Savage Learns Grass Flocking at Wētā Workshop!

Adam takes a lesson on grass flocking from Wētā Workshop Project Supervisor Mona Peters as it pertains to adding believable greenery to a "bigature" landscape! It's an effective yet accessible process used for all kinds of miniature terrain, and Adam has a delightful time assisting in the planting of fake grass and trees on the featured fantasy bigature set of Wētā Workshop Unleashed!
Wētā Workshop Unleashed: tours.wetaworkshop.com/unleas...
See photos from the exhibition at / wetaworkshopunleashed
The Production Design of Wētā Workshop Unleashed: • Adam Savage Behind the...
Creating a Bigature for Wētā Workshop Unleashed: • Worldbuilding a "Bigat...
Inside Wētā Workshop's Animatronics Lab: • Inside Wētā Workshop's...
Stay tuned for more videos from Adam's visit behind the scenes of Wētā Workshop Unleashed!
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Ryan Kiser / ryan.kiser
Josh Self / puppetflesh
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Kishore Hari / sciencequiche
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Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching!
#wetaworkshop #adamsavage

[@tested]

Wētā Workshop Unleashed: tours.wetaworkshop.com/unleashed/ See photos from the exhibition at instagram.com/wetaworkshopunleashed The Production Design of Wētā Workshop Unleashed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omrNh513is6ll9k Creating a Bigature for Wētā Workshop Unleashed: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iqOYe3V_nr18bpo Inside Wētā Workshop's Animatronics Lab: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4u8gKidqZh1o9k

[@wizulus]

You should check out NerdForge 🤩

[@RPRsChannel]

*_I'd rather see a video on how they made those gorgeous trees._*

[@Eurekanation1]

so weta will spend million on a hobbit village buy buys cheap ass ozito hot air guns

[@wywysbomb]

This was maybe the most pleasant display of persisting childlike wonder and kindred minds I’ve seen. Your passion is inspiring, Adam, and Mona was an excellent teacher.

[@DavidVanmeterDutch]

Very eloquent way of saying that!! So accurate to what I feel with this and miniatures along with many different areas that Adam works with.

[@HLR4th]

Adam has multiple superpowers, but I think Persistent Childlike Wonder powers them all

[@drunkmike6364]

Mona can teach me whatever she wants

[@user-pm9ci2gg6b]

Thank you for articulating exactly how I felt, too!

[@stellviahohenheim]

She's talking to Adam as if he's a child, and Adam just went with it

[@johnryan6422]

I've been making table top terrain for my D&D group for years. It's cool to see how some of the best model makers on earth still use the basics like PVA and cheap acrylic or modpodge. Man I wish I learned that this was a career path earlier on in my life lol.

[@maxwellkeet]

Never to late friend!

[@g60force]

same as me I like sex tried to make it my profession, but decided a hobby is good enough XD@@maxwellkeet

[@mauricereeves7642]

This felt like the segments during Mr. Rogers where he would go somewhere and learn something from them, in all the right ways. This is genuinely the kind of happy informative informed content we should have more of. Thank you for sharing this with us!

[@brkr_]

Quite surprised Adam had never tried a static applicator before! There are some much more approachable entry level applicators you can get for home use (they dont work quite as nicely as the one in this video though) and they can really take your flocking game to the next level with so much ease! Would be so fun to work on a piece that large!

[@thedappercook]

It's uniquely Kiwi

[@AKKK1182]

If you're using one with a pin with opposite charge, you can get pretty carpet-like finishes. The one in this video isn't terrible, but it's far from good because they lack that other polarity to really get the strands to stand up.

[@andysmith1996]

@@thedappercook No, it's not. Noch has been selling static applicators since 2005 and the idea has been around since the 1970s. It wasn't a New Zealand invention.

[@BruceNJeffAreMyFlies]

I expect we will see one, soon, that he made himself. It doesn't seem like a hard device to make for someone who understands electricity.

[@soulsonicfarce]

This is up there with some of Adam’s best. Such a beautiful connection between two creatives. I really enjoyed how Mona was asking a lot of questions too- they were both sharing and enquiring on such a lovely level

[@dvs482]

i just love adams enthusiasm in everything he does

[@jasoncy31]

We went to WETA in NZ about five years ago. Trip of a lifetime. Beautiful country, beautiful people. We'd love to go again. The only thing I'd change is to stop over in Hawaii for a day or two on the way. The flight from Austin is brutal! :) Thanks for posting this.

[@FantasKanal]

Maybe Adam can visit the "Miniatur Wunderland" in Hamburg at some point. Its one of the biggest tourist attractions in Germany (might even the biggest at this point) and its also the largest miniature railway in the world. It quite interactive and they innovate constantly. At the moment for example they are working on Monaco with a dynamic F1 race where the cars can actually dynamically overtake throughout the racetrack. Been there at least half a dozen times (as i grew up near the city) and they are constantly expanding and working on new things. Its a treat each and every time.

[@ianmcgillivray9901]

So cool! I recently modified a mini back to the future delorean to give it more detail and used black flocking on the interior floor to give it a carpet look. Flocking is so powerful to give that random textured look to minis. Seeing the pros in this series show off all of their knowledge has been so fun!

[@thefalloutshelter7799]

I find on model car builds, embossing powder gives a nice scale carpet look.....I have also used cinnamon.........best smelling model I ever built haha

[@0xTJ]

Flocking is really cool! I've done some before on model train setups, and it gives great results!

[@OneLeatherBoot]

Check out "Luke Towan" on YT, he does a lot of stunning ground work in HO scale.

[@Adrokk3]

As my predominant hobby is miniature wargaming, followed closely by scale modelling, there is SO much you can do with these and the applied layering of different mediums

[@MonkeyspankO]

Lol. This takes me back to my childhood dioramas. Had no idea this was a career path skill set.

[@evolicious]

This is peak cool when it comes to modelwork. Need to thank you Adam for showing us, and Mona for being an amazing talented teacher! Have to say, Mona really has that sweet and encouraging vibe to expand your imagination. She's like the art teacher you waited all day in school to see. Weta truly is a place for dreams coming true. Would love for Adam to meet up with Luke Towan someday, that guy makes incredibly realistic scenery on the level that Weta does it.

[@TimonScholten]

Adam needs to build his own Flocking gun. that would be a nice tested workshop video :)

[@WilliamBlakers]

Exactly what i was thinking. Wouldnt surprise me if asked them if he could pull theirs apart just to have a peek at its inner workings.

[@willmfrank]

@@WilliamBlakers Or... He could just watch Luke Towan's how-to video...😉🤔

[@benas763]

I get this exact same feeling when I'm working on a 3D environment. Love the knowledge in each video!!!

[@budjamison2149]

I'm a model railroader so I love this kind of scenics. I made my own static grass flocker from a $3 bug zapper! I think that should be your next project!

[@tstuff]

One of the best flocking videos I've ever seen

[@EVSkecthCode]

Mona is an incredible artist and master of her craft that I deeply respect but I can't not be distracted by her beauty. She's so pretty!

[@notanimposter]

Oh shoot that's awesome! I never knew it was static electricity that makes the little guys stand up! That's so cool!

[@KarlKarsnark]

Those flockers at Weta are just amazing. Can never get enough of those flocking flockers.

[@gamerkingdom1442]

As someone who’s starting to learn how to make Dioramas for my GUNDAM Model Kits, this a DREAM for me!! That background looks incredible!! 😳

[@Steve.Cutler]

Wow, this is amazing. Just when I thought it couldn't get any more realistic!

[@SammeLagom]

Wow, great video! I love Adams creativity and this kind woman seems very nice to work with!

[@MM-io4kd]

The things adam savage can build create make, and hes never flocked before. Unreal

[@Tr1sh4Lynn]

I know! There's a KZbin creator I follow (North of the Border) and he breaks out the flocking gun almost every project he does. But I do love how much Mona Peters explains the theory and how it's applied on large models like what Weta makes.

[@TJRohyans]

Mona! 😍 I'm quite surprised that Adam was unaware of 'Static Grass' flocking. Model railroaders have been using it for years now.

[@williampalmer8052]

Absolutely. I first heard about this technique over forty years ago.

[@setra23]

Very common in the mini wargaming world as well.

[@zeaig]

He said he was aware of it, he just mentioned that he personally had never done it or really looked into the process of it too much.

[@marvindebot3264]

Yup, I've had a gun for many years.

[@andrewsock1608]

@@zeaig funny how dumb and unobservant commenters can be eh? Makes you wonder. Maybe they were eating Doritos and never herd a word Adam said 😂🤣.

[@adamtinweb]

If you also buy the special layering spray you can add more static grass on the first layer to get better variations in height.

[@BrBobMackeSJ]

I recommend checking out Luke Towan/Boulder Creek Railroad for examples of using the static grass at a smaller (less industrial) scale. He even made his own static gun at one point, though he now uses a commercially-available hobbyist static gun.

[@alexandersillan8139]

I love how many times Luke’s name came up 👍

[@HAL9000.]

Nothing beats flocking grass to make you Weta.

[@R2k2]

I'm not a model builder myself, but I have to admit that this look amazing!!

[@donlee_ohhh]

Adam's enthusiasm is infectious as ever. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@anaetachandler8699]

Ok that's two tools to add to my tool box. Thank you for your channel so inspiring

[@bmg50barrett74]

I had no idea flocking had these awesome techniques. I always just assumed it was dropping random "grass" clippings onto glue. This was amazing!

[@thefalloutshelter7799]

I think most people in the model railroad world call this static grass as opposed to flocking, and the tool a static grass applicator......if you are looking to buy these supplies

[@paulbrennan1268]

Thanks so much for the happiness and detail. Loved it

[@schmeat2717]

Neat stuff, I could listen to Mona all day she is so amazing thumbs up for her. She needs her own youtube channel!

[@marvindebot3264]

I do flocking on my railroad but dang, I wish I had the skills those folks do. I've seen their work and it's amazing.

[@TheGreyProphet]

Looks like a really fun day and those terraced hills look awesome. Always a treat to see people doing what they're good an passionate about. Thank you for sharing.

[@NoflikOfficial]

I love how she gives Adam complete creative freedom with choosing which greenery to put on the tree roots.

[@EvilDeadFan11]

Wow indeed. What a cool process!

[@maximeb190]

This is such a brilliant process!!

[@mildsteven77]

What a wholesome piece of content

[@glockparaastra]

That's amazing. Looks so real.

[@torsloke]

That was flocking mossome! I can wait to try this on a future project.

[@Secret_Takodachi]

Man between random vids like this & Adam's coverage of the Steam Deck a few months back I gotta say I'm psyched to see this persistent need to seek out new cool stuff to learn about isn't just a "me" thing. As long as Adam's covering it on his channel here I know my odd fascination with falling down "rabbit holes" of new stuff isn't a solitary affair. ❤👍

[@Toughbeard]

This is milestone in my life. Something I have done and Adam Savage has not :) But the expressions and reaction are completely relatable. "ooooh oooh yeahhh WoW" "Lovely!!!" Such a great video and thank you for reminding me of the wonderful fun I had when I first used the flocking gun...

[@argore9709]

if adam ever made his own movie with practical effects i'm 100% sure it would be absolutely mind boggling

[@evolicious]

Good time to recommend 'Mad God', it just came out and is representative of bleeding-edge miniature practical effects. Truly a mind-boggling film!

[@argore9709]

@@evolicious oo I'll be sure to check it out thanks!

[@JayTraversJT]

I'm jealous. Looks like such a fun job! Beautiful work.

[@anon_y_mousse]

They do such beautiful work there. Seeing this reminds me of all the movies I saw as a kid that they had a hand in.

[@rillegas08backup]

Okay, I had to pause a minute in to geek out about Mona's shirt. The creature on her shirt is an ikran from James Cameron's Avatar. Avatar came out in 2009 and according to IMDB Mona started her career in 2014, and that design doesn't appear to be commercially available online, not even on weta's website. Mona is credited on IMDB as the special effects supervisor for Avatar: the Way of Water, which leads me to believe this is a shirt she got for being on Avatar 2. EDIT: I noticed some text on her sleeve after writing this, and a few minutes later she'd turned toward the camera enough to read "Avatar sequels". I WILL be watching for her name in the credits come December 18th.

[@nexusnui]

Since Adam seems interested in model trains, a video about the "Miniaturwunderland" in Hamburg Germany could be interesting. It is the largest model railway in H0.

[@JAGG87]

Thanks Adam, I started with the last wētā video with the modular scenery, now I'm printing miniatures as a hobby, look for Dark magic craft, one of his views was next to the previous video I mentioned

[@steventripsas5604]

this was a great video. Loved seeing Weta Workshop as always but working on real Bigatures with weta staff! The whole thing .... the process, the techninic, the artistry. very cool. do more like this

[@WarrenBotes]

Haha. Adams reaction is so cool. i made one of these out of a tea strainer and and electric fly swatter. works really well!

[@SuperPress23]

Looks absolutely fantastic 😍

[@tvtoms]

One of the issues with straight PVA glue is that it likely will look glossy when dry. So can I assume the acrylic color added to the PVA was matte? Would like to see final results with glue dried. It's a nice trick to colorize the glue in any case if it helps with realism.

[@marvindebot3264]

I use Permatex Artists matte medium, a matting and sealing agent for acrylic paintings and art.

[@willmfrank]

Try Matte Mod Podge.

[@Spark_Chaser]

It was you going to Weta for the Labyrinth build that got me into terrain building for gaming purposes. I love seeing you back there again to do more work with them. Also, I love the mix of genius and child like wonder you have doing all of this work.

[@kimmipops5143]

What a great video - love the excitement ☺

[@SuperJeplin]

This brings me so much joy as I’ve been using similar methods for my war games miniatures and terrain.

[@Jordan-gh7zy]

Very nice and encouraging instructor

[@davidvickers8425]

Been twice to the weta cave, cant wait to see unleashed.

[@SistemaOperativoIncantato]

To be as creative and curious as Adam you need to be a genius, what a gem of a man

[@brianahawkins8124]

It looks Glorious!!!! I love this landscape, I am so adding this in my Diorama project for my mini self backyard exploration like if she discovered a new creature in that very place. :D

[@randomefan4ul]

Adam is in his Element. trying something new that he has been wanting to get to use, and not only that but to try it with a professional guiding you every step of the way while getting real life experience i can tell he didnt want to leave.

[@hopguy666]

Adam Savage, the professional child. Man I'd love to learn from him T^T

[@Max-Roos]

That was so fun to watch!

[@r2witco]

That was awesome!

[@Saltwaterwhanau]

never thought watching grass grow would be so fun

[@themanhimself5650]

this was flocking awesome 😂💯

[@Hobbyrepubliken]

A technique terrain builders of all miniature hobbies have known for years

[@wonderwend1]

I wish too! What a heavenly job!

[@reigels]

Lots of fun. Not too tough to make your own Static Grass Applicator for less than 1/10th the cost of a commercial flocking gun. I’ve built one from plans available online using an electric fly zapper (Harbor Freight) and metal sieve (Target) which actually works pretty well. Total cost was under 10 bucks.

[@kiimaro]

Can't believe you've never seen flocking before. It's been used in diorama builds (even amateurs) for years now. It's really cool.

[@akc5150]

So wonderful to see Adam this excited by something!! I've been watching Luke Towan do this for years and his modelling skills are something I think even a person of Adams calibre would appreciate!!

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

That landscape is phenomenal! Weta is such a cool company

[@Encrypt-]

I have been on the unleashed tour and it is awesome!! Really loved the mold of your head Adam :)

[@GlenHunt]

Weta trips are always a winner!

[@PplsChampion]

i stumbled on the grass shooter thing on amazon and i remember thinking wow this is the most specific product ive ever seen in my life

[@acidriott]

Awesome!

[@halsti99]

there also are very basic non static flocking kits, i think one brand name for it is FlockIt. those are mainly used for drawers or so. its also just glue and then flocking applied to it. the applicator for those are just 2 cardboard tubes that fit into each other. one has a couple of holes to blow the flocking out of. Because they are not charged at all, they do not stand up nicely, so that wont work for grass. However, if you just want a surface that feels nice to touch, those applicators work nicely and only cost like 20 bucks.

[@thefalloutshelter7799]

you can also buy a bulb type of flocking puffer/applicator.....looks kind of like a small turkey baster

[@russell28533]

Welp, I woke up this morning never thinking to myself I need a "Flocking gun" but Tested has done it again, and here we are.

[@nathkrupa3463]

Wow amazing sir 👍👍👍.

[@irishninja9857]

Its flocking incredible

[@gandalfthegay.]

It always was my dream to work there. I wish i could visit it at least once.

[@HoveyFarms]

I learned this when I was in this hobby shop club. We did a model layout flocking

[@jwilbrahamford]

Love me some weta!

[@berca76]

Kinda fell in love with Mona. She is so lovely! :)

[@Brees1986]

Mona is cute and fascinating, we need to see more of her!

[@KhalainBear]

(any miniature wargamer ever) "come Adam my child, let me tell you of the ways of my world" I've been wargaming for over 30 years basing and flocking is something I've been familiar with for a LONG time, it makes me smile seeing Adam getting so giddy over it :D

[@williamtatlock230]

thank you very inspiring

[@Lynx7725]

I actually bashed together a static applicator using a kitchen sieve and a bug zapper repurposed. Works well enough though you do need to be careful not to zap yourself - the commercial products are better in that regards. I'm a bit surprised on this particular applicator though, as usually you need to connect one end to the surface so that and electric field is generated on the surface that would attract the charged flock. I guess this version might have just did that on one end and let gravity and velocity take care of the work.

[@themigmadmarine]

Done the same, works quite well, but makes you jump every time you bump the pin though

[@reigels]

Yep - I built one too with the Harbor Freight bug zapper. Works well and is dirt cheap.

[@reigels]

@@themigmadmarine No kidding! Plenty of excitement when you hit the grounding wire. Surprised the unit they used didn't need to be grounded, but I get guess you get that for several hundred extra bucks.

[@P529Nr1]

God Adam Savage is such a genuine person

[@newtonianromance]

Amazing technique

[@Ishlol1]

What a dream job!

[@Midnorme]

I would love to see how they make those trees!

[@MarksGoneWicked]

Flocking is common in model railroads. Check out The Terrain Tutor on KZbin. He's in the UK, and all he does is various landscaping models. DIY flocking guns are easy to make. Edit: I hope you saw the Cosmonaut gloves for sale, I tagged you on Facebook.

[@harbl99]

You might be thinking of Luke Towan and his photo realistic dioramas. Mel's a Brit, Luke's an Aussie.

[@MarksGoneWicked]

@@harbl99 you're right. I don't know why, but I always thought he was in Australia. Fixed it.

[@pastmasterdan4080]

I love having a “Grass” choice!

[@samyoungblood3740]

What a cool job to have

[@jamessims9651]

I’d love to see how they made the trees!

[@alecwhatshisname5170]

Wire frame, clay, paint. Green Cotton ball, flocking on top.

[@bradical6019]

Went to Weta Workshop in Wellington, definitely go , sooooo good.

[@charlie1872]

I am a civilian and I know about flocking as I have a model railway. All you had to do was look up your local model railroad clubs and they would have shown you how to do it without having to buy a plane ticket. There are KZbin videos on how to make a flocking wand from a bug zapper which is also a money saver during these Covid times. In fact, I will be making my own video on how to make one. I have visited Hobbiton and The Weta Cave, unfortunately even tough I was wearing my original TESTED T Shirt I didn’t get the Adam Savage tour🤣Always enjoy your videos

[@mbgrafix]

To get *The Adam Savage Tour,* you need to create and appear in an Adam Savage outfit and mask etc., *_SO remarkable_* that they will question one another... _"Do you think that is _*_REALLY_*_ Adam Savage?"_

[@charlie1872]

Mike I bumped into him a couple of times at SDCC and although he was Cosplaying I am sure it was him. When he wore the suit from Prometheus he lifted his visor to speak to me🤣

[@the_arcanum]

@@mbgrafix To do that, Charlie needs to commission Landon Meier, the guy behing Hyperflesh Masks to do the Brian Cranston / Heisenberg trick of Comic Con 2013 :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJW5l6N5rrRlkNU