HO scale: Building a farm scene, part 1

In this video I discuss how to create plowed fields and corn fields from cardboard.
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[@kevindunlap5525]

I've hoarded almost every cardboard box and grocery box for several years now. You get a really good feel for how much recycling we really go through. My choices blow away the model store, and everything is custom made and unique. I'm always surprised at how I find just the exact piece of cardboard that I need.

[@wedelacresdepottrains9060]

Instead of leaving the stalks "flat" , grab the base of each stalk about a quarter of an inch up and give it a quarter twist. Go up another quarter and give another quarter twist . Continue same process for each stalk ! Gives it a realistic look then !

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

I have the same plastic bowls except mine held yoghurt and theyre perfect for holding paint and glue and water. Theres no need for expensive paint pallettes as 9 times out of 10 I use these or even scrap card to mix paint etc on. This is a great way to recycle cardboard too...you can paint it and scatter it with flock to mimic stubble or do lines of green like crops just coming up or use clump foliage to look like mature crops. Its a great idea. I have used corrugated cardboard as roofing but this is another great way to make your budget spin out more.

[@IHVRRNotBad]

Great idea for doing a nice job inexpensively. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@CharlieDiamond-em5so]

Glueing between the corrugation, ruins the plowed and planted look. Might as well glue them directly to your layout! However, the use of the cardboard box pieces, is a great Idea. I’ve actually used it myself. Here’s how to get a better look... Get yourself a shovel full of dirt. Get out the Rocks, roots, etc., and set them aside. Screen it throughly with a common kitchen screen. Don’t force it thru the mesh. You can get 3 textures from this. You’re Using just the finest dirt for this. You can change the color by adding light or dark tile grout, if you Don’t feel it looks right when wet. (the dirt takes on a wet look when it absorbs the Glue.) in a pinch, using old dry potting soil, or even those little expanding, seed starting plugs, work. Cover the corrugated surface with glue. Use a brush to spread it, and don’t let it puddle in the furrows. Keep it spread evenly. Then using the same screen you did earlier, sift out dirt over the whole piece of cardboard, making sure to keep the furrowed shape, by occasionally, gently brushing the dirt from them. (The dirt will absorb the glue, and stick to itself, leaving you with a hard, flat piece of dirt, otherwise.) Give it roughly a 1/2 hour or so to set up. Then flip it over, give it a tap. Maybe a little shimmy. Then see if you have any bare spots. If so, brush a bit of Glue on those spots, and put some dirt on that. Now, I usually wait a half hour for the new glue to set up, but you could save the time by just, at this point, sift the dirt over the entire piece, til it is all filled in and flat. Now put a piece of Wax paper over it, and set a weight, like a book, on it and leave it to completely dry.( the Book keeps it flat, while all the extra dirt, keeps it from crushing flat.) At this point, I would personally, remove each Stalk from the strip, and prepare it to plant it all individually. But that’s me. Using the entire strip, I’d coat the top and sides of the base strip with glue, and sprinkle some of the fine sifted dirt over it, so it blends in. Also, give every Third stalk, a quarter or Half turn. Alternate between clockwise, and Counter clockwise twists, and run them in a series. By that I mean, in a strip of 20, with every third one turned, you’ll have 2 left in that row. Which means on the next strip, you turn the first stalk, and every 3rd stalk after, and so on. Once all is dry. Shake off the loose dirt. Put a stripe of glue on the bottom of the Corn Row, and set it onto the rise. Don’t be afraid to use a little pressure, or the “Glue ooze”. Once you’ve gotten your rows planted, use a skewer or paint brush to spread the glue ooze evenly down the edges of the strip where it touches the rise. Then sift some more of the dirt over it. Some times, Angling the corn field, so the dirt hits flat on the rising sides, helps here to round out the transition between the curved surface, and the flat sided strip. For added realism, put in a little ground cover here and there. A small tuft of drying Grass, some kind of clover like greenery in the furrows, or up the sides here and there, within the rows. Corn rarely grows alone, wether in a garden, or a 40 Acre field. 👍🏼😁

[@harrywinslow3946]

You want realistic looking dirt? Use used, dried coffee grounds poured over elmer's glue or spray on glue.

[@darissk3869]

Nice tutorial ,thanx for video🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿☀️

[@daylightdave9405]

I also did this trick and just kept it as a freshly plowed field. It works! David BAC V RR

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Thanks for sharing. This is a great tutorial. I liked and subbed. 👍 David

[@FlyingCrow]

What a great idea! Subscribed!

[@TheGreatBlumpkin]

You could use this technique and make an infinity mirror endless corn field scene

[@a.j.grabbe9295]

what did you use to put the corn stalks in line prior to gluing them in together?

[@birdbrainmodelrails9701]

They came that way.

[@jyajboots]

Off camera and part 2 is not part 2!