Quick, Cheap and Realistic Ground cover- Shrubs-Foliage for Model train layouts -

[@Mydadsshed]

I just started making Dioramas after retirement - It was either that or lawn bowls. This is a great idea sir - 3 years later your still helping an old fella - Thanks so much. (That horrible poly stuff that my dog rips out of his toys will now be of great use)

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Love the humor .. thank you for your kind words. As I have shared with others , please please please use gloves and mask when working with floral foam . I have the very same problem with my Dog .. Give her a toy and it is ripped up in 2 mins .. poly stuff all over the place .. Send me some pics of your Diorama's . I would love to see them .. ([e-mail]) Regards, Anthony .

[@Mydadsshed]

@anthonyshobbycorner Well Ok Anthony. If I can get my fat thumbs working I will. Its amateur hour compared to yours, but I have a few unique ideas or 2. Cheers. Appreciate your reply.

[@ron045]

You really brought this together nicely. Was unsure where you were going when you started but the end results are great. Thanks for sharing.

[@anandadesilva6558]

Just came across this and I am floored! Great technique. I am just starting on the scenery and this is what I needed. Thanks Anthony.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hey Ananda , Thank you for the kind words. The method is cheap and effective . however , I do need to share a warning . Please keep in mind that if you want to use Floral Foam ( turning it into powder form etc ) , Please take the necessary safety precautions ( mask, gloves etc ) , as the fine dust can be toxic to your health etc .. so just be careful when using it . By the way , Are you from Sri Lanka ?

[@anandadesilva6558]

@@anthonyshobbycorner Thanks for the reply. I understand the thing about using a mask. This stuff is not good for the health! Yes, I am from SL! I know you are too as I heard you mention the MR club in SL in one of the clips. I also emailed you and hope you can reply me on the power supply that you built. We can write more details on email as this is a public forum. Hope you don't mind. Kind regards.

[@ArcadiaJunctionHobbies]

A good tip is to paint paint the poly foam battening a dark brown. The green flock and turf sits more naturally upon it. Great video thanks.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Great Tip .... I will definitely try that for the next batch of ground cover ... Appreciate the comments ... - Anthony -

[@sirclarkmarz]

I like that idea the paint would also build up the thickness of the Poly foam filler giving it a more realistic branch structure . A dusting of Gray pastel would give it realism as well

[@bashermax]

I have painted foam dark green on the base and then while the paint is still wet, dust it with flocking/ground foam in a lighter color and this gives the foliage depth, like light falling on the top leaves while darker green shadow beneath. Good for trees too.

[@STho205]

I have used floral foam on an attic layout extensively. One warning is it rots. It decomposes to a brown powder over time and heat. In a climate controlled living floor room it is probably much slower to decompose...but an attic or shed that is only cooled when you plan to run trains...go with landscape foam which rots much, much slower.

[@normanrowe2831]

Hello, I follow dozens of MRR modelers and diorama modelers and I have never seen this technique before. It’s brilliant in it’s simplicity. Thank you for sharing.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Norman, - Thank you for your kind words . Very much appreciated. I'm just trying to find ways to make this hobby more affordable .. and it is quite satisfying to find ways using simple household materials which rival commercially available products ... Thank you again for your comments... Regards, Anthony.

[@davidcrockett4228]

Just great. So creative. Really solves the constant poblem of creating realistic looking ground cover. Thanks.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks so much!

[@mattersofthehartbynat8815]

I’m not sure if I left a comment the last time I watched this video so I am doing so now… I am very new to making miniatures/dioramas, in fact still working on my first piece which is a fairy garden for my 80 year old Mum. From the minute I started I was hooked and videos like yours are so very, very helpful. Crafting on a budget, I have quickly learned how to make so many of the items myself… and now, with much thanks to you, I am able to give the base of my garden so much more than a 2 dimensional layer of just flocking or static grass (as I don’t yet have a static grass applicator)! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with others so that we can learn the tips of the trade!! ❤️

[@tonypetts6663]

A great way to make brambles and bracken etc for a layout. I must admit halfway through I was wondering where it was going but it came together really well to create a great effect. It's also good on the pocket also, which is a bonus.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks Tony , Appreciate it . Please keep in mind that if you want to use Floral Foam ( turning it into powder form etc ) , Please take the necessary safety precautions ( mask, gloves etc ) . Regards, - Anthony -

[@dopehunterkilo12]

We just laid and ballasted the track and I have been stuck on how to get started with the actual ground cover. I am excited to try this method. I really like the look. Thank you!

[@shawnleih2916]

Looking very nice done friends on your beautiful layout friends

[@corvusboreus2072]

Greetings from Australia. Cheers for a very good simple tutorial. The only suggestion I could add would be to hit the polyfilla with brown paint (bottom & top) before adding the florists foam to avoid the chance of any white bits showing through. I have already made large areas of forest for tabletop wargaming by using polyfilla (spraypainted with brown then green) as foliage for tree armatures made from the inverted roots of certain weedy shrubs (mainly Senna pendula). They were a bit of a rushed job and always looked somewhat flat in texture.. Now knowing that florists foam can take spray paints and adhesives without melting, I reckon I'll revisit my old trees and clump them up a bit. Thanks again.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Great idea and recommendation .... I should have thought of that .. lol .. Thank you for sharing ..

[@Morganstein-Railroad]

Great idea Anthony. Looks realistic, and I'll have a go at that myself.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks Alan , Just be careful when using Floral Foam . Please use gloves and a mask etc .. Good luck on your project , Send me some pics .. I would like to see the results .. ([e-mail]) .. Regards, Anthony

[@cloudinthewind]

This is a great idea and you've demonstrated it masterfully. I have been looking for something that I can use in my WWII layouts to demonstrate hedgerows that are easy to mass produce and I think there's a lot of potential for this. Thank you.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you for the kind comments - Much appreciated . I'm glad you found it to be of value . Regards, - Anthony -

[@williamwhitten7820]

Splended tutorial for some very dimentional ground cover. Thanks!

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi William , Thank you for the kind words. Much appreciate. Just a word of Caution .. Please take appropriate safety measures when working with floral foam . I have been told that it it could be somewhat bad for your health if you inhale the powdered foam . So please use a mask when you break up the floral foam .. What baffles me is that Floral foam has been used for years by florists around the world, and they have to constantly break the foam into smaller chunks etc when they use it .. so I don't see what all the fuss is about , but based on some comments I have received , It's best to put on a mask etc when work with floral foam .. Regards, - Anthony -

[@williamwhitten7820]

@@anthonyshobbycorner, Hi, I actually never use floral foam. It is in fact very dangerous to your health: Floral foam is made of: In technical terms, it's an open cell phenol-formaldehyde foam. Floral foam is essentially plastic. It's a petroleum-derived product, meaning it comes from a non-renewable resource. And it contains formaldehyde and carbon black. I was a sculptor in the film industry doing special effects films. A lot of full size sets are made of Polyurethane Foam. The danger is in breathing the dust that inevitably results when carving and sanding the material. At the studios we always wore full plastic suits and rubber gloves. we would tape aound our wrists and ancles. We always wore goggles and surgical masks. And we always used pressurized air to blow off our suits before taking them off. In my diorama modelling I use styrene foam, the kind that breaks down into little balls. This is not the same as polyurethane foam. I use foam rubber for making ground cover. I was able to procure a huge amount of rubber foam when the apartment next door was replaced. The foam rubber mat that goes under carpet is what I got ahold of. I usea food blender to make the foam foliage. I cut the foam rubber mats into small squares and filled the blender with the rubber and water. After getting the foam ground up, I pour out the majority of water and then add artists acrylic paint (various colors). a little goes a long way. The result is very much like the Woodland Scenics 'clump foliage' products. To get a finer blend I use a coffee bean grinder to chop the clump foliage to get that 'fine green foliage' type product. I make miniature bushes out of steel wool, from #"0" to #"3". I also use polyfiber for variation in appearance and needs. Thank you for the ongoing dialog.

[@TezJ16]

Came across this video yesterday and decided to give it a try last night. This was a very good idea and it looks great. Thanks for the tip!

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi , Thank you for the kind words... I'm glad you found it useful . I would love to see how it turned out. Regards, - Anthony -

[@mgamga9476]

Wow thanks. Being I am making a 4 x 8 N scale layout and Michael's store is right up the block from me. This looks great and easy. Have everything except floral foam. I will buy floral foam in 10 min. at Michael's and will be doing this. Thanks again.

[@lowcountryrailroad7701]

Very nice video detailing how you do this. Thanks for sharing,, David @ low country railroad

[@edhorst7212]

Excellent tip especially since retiring and funds are not in budget for many higher prices already made or use of name brand materials.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Ed , Thanks for the kind comments. I totally agree with you , that the cost for model railroad accessories are getting higher and higher. .. It drives us to find innovative ways to accomplish the same with house hold materials .. Thanks for the comment . Regards, - Anthony -

[@cherylespankowski979]

What an awesome idea. I never thought of using those materials! Thank you so much.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Cheryle , Thank you for the kind words, .. much appreciated . Just a word of caution , when using any kind of floral foam . Just make sure you use a mask and gloves etc... Even though Florists use them and handle these floral foam bricks on a daily basis , apparently they are not very good for your health .. best to be cautious breaking it apart into small pieces that you don't inhale the small piece of foam . Regards, - Anthony .

[@nramorrisg8415]

That was a great idea great job cuz you can always add to it like flowers growing out between it so forth and so on even make it into Moss climbing up a tree or other places.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Agree with you ,. You can just add stuff as you feel fit even in due time .. Thanks for the kind words .. Apologies for the delayed response ... Again please exercise cautions when using floral foam , use gloves and Mask when making it into a powder as it is somewhat toxic if inhaled etc ...

[@johnjohnston9661]

Clever and economical approach to scenery! Excellent tutorial.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

hi John , Thank you for the kind words. Please use caution when using floral foam . make sure wear a mask and gloves etc .. you don't want to be inhaling that fine foam powder etc .. take care , - regards, Anthony . -

[@phil36310]

Nice result. Thanks for this tutorial. I used the floral foam to dust pine trees. But looks good as ground cover too. I'll give it a try !

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Filip . Thank you for the comments. Floral foam is like Duct tape for modeling .. It can be used in so many different ways and is far more cost effective than a commercial product .. I will also give floral foam a try on pine trees . I do have a few pine tree armatures .. time to give it a shot ... Regards, - Anthony -

[@daviddavis7748]

Great demonstration.....I will use this on my first layout.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi David , i'm glad you found it useful . Apparently the powdered Floral foam can be somewhat toxic , so please wear a mask when you break up the floral foam .. Regards, Anthony .

[@davidbodofsky9467]

I really found this video helpful! It will be perfect for in between my track lines! Could you please write out what product s. You used? Ididn’t quite catch them. Thank you. David

[@vincenthuying98]

Cool method, like your use of floral foam.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Vincent , Thanks for the kind comments . But again , please use floral foam with caution ( use gloves and Mask ) when working when filing them to powder form as the powdered form of floral foam is not the best for your health ( has some toxic elements) . just be careful when using it , and you will have good results ..

[@manuelurdaneta8649]

Easy and excellent. Something new for me, Very interesting

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Manuel , thank you for the comment . Just be careful with Floral foam . I was informed that floral foam , even though it is used widely by florists , apparently it can be toxic , if you don't wear appropriate protective gear ( mask + Gloves ) when working with Floral Foam .. So from one hobbyist to another .. be careful with Floral foam - Regards, - Anthony .

[@richardclowes6123]

Hi, just came across your video. I've never really been keen on clump foliage as I never found it realistic enough. However, the way you've made it has changed my opinion. I'm going to give it a go and use some on my embankments which is an area I think might well suit the product. Cheers.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Richard, Appreciate the kind words .. Just a word of caution , when using any kind of floral foam . Just make sure you use a mask and gloves etc... Even though Florists use them and handle these floral foam bricks on a daily basis , apparently they are not very good for your health .. best to be cautious breaking it apart into small pieces .. Regards, - Anthony -

[@rays9338]

Absolutely amazing great 3D effect

[@normbenjamin]

I would appreciate a list of the paint colors you used. This is the best video I've seen on ground cover.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Norm , Thanks for the kind words , I used some generic spray paints from Walmart. I will go into garage in the morning and write down the name brand and color and will let u know .. Cheers , Anthony .

[@stevencilento3364]

Your layout looks really good. Great job.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you Steven , Much appreciated.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you Steven .. Much appreciated.

[@daneisenhower4346]

Awesome, always looking for inexpensive and realistic!

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks Dan , Much appreciated . Again , I do want to emphasize that you use the Floral foam ( if you plan to ) with caution ( use gloves and a mask etc ) as people state that is not very safe in power form . So take the necessary precautions .. But thanks again for the kind words ... Happy modelling - Anthony ..

[@malcolmwilkins2495]

Looking good,not too busy.

[@BattiModelRailway]

Nice work Anthony, I do the same thing but spray paint the polyester before applying anything on top but I think that is not necessary as all of it will get covered.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Darshan . I'm glad you have discovered this technique as well . It is so cost effective, while not compromising on realism ... I have been using regular spray cans all this time , but I think moving forward I will start using a Air brush , which will give me more color options and variations ... It was nice catching up with you . - Lets keep in touch - Regards, - Anthony ( Rajuna )-

[@heathpein4346]

this is a great idea i have some larger areas to cover and will be using this method. Thanks for the great idea

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

@@heathpein4346 - Thank you for the kind comments. The purpose of posting these vids are to share ideas with fellow hobbies .. so I'm glad you found it of value .. I also learn a lot from looking at techniques and methods others have used for building their layouts .. Nothing is more satisfying than finding ways to progress your layout without having to buy those exorbitantly priced commercial products ... take care - Regards, - Anthony .

[@gmaneis]

Great idea! Looks like it's fun to make it, too. And cheap. Thanks for sharing.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad you found it useful . Stay safe , Regards, - Anthony -

[@gmaneis]

@@anthonyshobbycorner Are you modeling in HO? I'm N, but your technique looks as if it would work well for N, too.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

@@gmaneis Yes, I am Modeling in HO . However, the technique should work for N scale as well I would think ( just that I have never tried it for N). One recommendation is that if you want to try this for N , just use less poly fill and less floral foam , this way the ground cover does not get too high. - Regards, Anthony -

[@gmaneis]

@@anthonyshobbycorner That's what I was thinking would work well for N. Thanks for the suggestion, and thanks again for sharing your technique.

[@chesterroadmodelrailway6369]

Fabulous idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Chester, Thank you for the kind comments . Just be careful about using Floral foam ( as that stuff can be toxic when in powder form etc .. So please wear gloves and a mask when working with Floral foam ) .. Please be safe , when using these materials .. BTW: I checked out and sub'd to your channel . Would love to see some vids of your layout etc .. Regards, - Anthony .-

[@CalebsTrains]

Great idea. Thanks for sharing. We’re going to try this in our layout.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks for the kind words Caleb .. Much appreciated .. I'm glad you found it of value .. Give it a shot and let me know how it goes .. If you have any questions , don't hesitate to shoot me an email .. Regards, - Anthony -

[@tiffanyroberts9216]

This is a fantastic idea. Thanks for sharing

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you Tiffany . It's very simple , quite realistic, and saves $$$ ... Thank you for your comment. Regards, - Anthony -

[@georgiasunbelt]

What an awesome idea….I will be using this in a couple areas on my layout…thanks for sharing it…new subscriber…Anthony

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you Georgia for the kind words and sub .. Much appreciated.

[@mrmrlee]

Would you recommend painting the polyester first with brown paint to simulate twigs and branches, before adding the foam?

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Absolutely .. To be honest , i was a bit lazy and went straight for the Green paints ... Giving it a light spray of brown as a base will definitely give the effect of twigs and branches etc.. then you can layer on the green ( starting with darker to lighter ) to acquire your desired effect. Great idea and observation on your part ... Regards, - Anthony -

[@corvusboreus2072]

@@anthonyshobbycorner I would also recommend giving the underside of the polyfilla a dusting of brown. It avoids the white showing from underneath, and means you can use it for making overhangs.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

@@corvusboreus2072 Great idea Corvus .. that would definitely work ...

[@SlickDiecast]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank u , Much appreciated .. I just checked out and Sub'd to your channel .. you have some great Diecast vids ... Regards - Anthony .-

[@paulmancinelli5911]

Great idea! Thank you!

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you for the kind comments Paul , much appreciated. Regards, - Anthony-

[@JoelsRailroadStuff]

Interesting idea. I might have to try this. Thanks.

[@shihanjulio]

Great video!! Why do you use hair spray vs. a spray adhesive???

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi chris, Sorry for the late response , not had time to catch up with the comments. I use hair spray for 2 reasons , 1) It is not as think as Spray adhesive ( not as heavy ) And so it does not compress the previous layer when it is sprayed on . 2) It is also significantly cheaper to buy Hair spray that Spray adhesive and I found that it is ideal for spraying inbetween layers ... Mind you , I do mix in some spray adhesive time to time .. but I found that Hairspray has sufficient tackyness to it , that it holds the light particles pretty well .. In fact you can use either .. It's just a personal preference .. of cost and convenience and results that you like.

[@nramorrisg8415]

You know what you gave me an idea for a second paint just little slight little pinpoints of glow in the dark . . . glowing like fireflies that might work.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Great idea ... Let me know how that goes .. I''m glad people are thinking of ways to crate foliage rather than purchasing the commercially available stuff at the store ..

[@cbirailroad]

great job - very ingenious...

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

great layout keep going

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks Dave .. Much appreciated ... I love your videos .. gives me a glimpse into rail action in the UK ... Regards, - Anthony -

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

@@anthonyshobbycorner Thanks Anthony for kind words subscribe to see more updates

[@ohno5650]

Very helpful thank you! Will add this to my layout

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you . Please ensure you handle Floral foam with gloves and a mask . you don't want to be inhaling those fine floral foam particles when you are filing it down . Regards, - Anthony -

[@klbird]

A neat solution I am going to try it.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Ken , thanks for the kind words ... Give it a shot , let me know how it goes ... - Regards, - Anthony -

[@kenriches7403]

Nice tip , nice layout .

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks Ken ... It's coming along ... Model railroad products can get very expensive ... Hence I try to experiment with various house hold materials to achieve the same without spending an arm and a leg on commercially available model railroad products ... Regards, - Anthony .

[@robertschworm6036]

Hi Anthony, OK, so you just layer up the foam on the poly until you get some height. The foam is easy to rasp and works well. Dollar Tree is the place to get this stuff for a very good price. The layout is N scale (1/160) so not too much height or it will go out of scale. This is a museum layout by the way. A great alternative to commercial foam and the mess of making your own other ways. Rasping it is quick and easy. I thought after I get it installed, that I may mist it with 70/30 PVA with a dash of dish soap to really seal it down as hair spray will fix it long enough to move it around...but when in place, it needs to be a bit more stiff. I learned about poly fill and am using it over large terrain in my terra forming with success. Gives a supurb texture and reduces tons of plaster and mess. Poly can be split into several whispy layers for other purposes like hanging moss and vines and tree canopys.. Will subscribe. Thanks. Bob s

[@tishr9634]

How about spraying with paint mixed with hodge podge glue ?

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

That is a great I deal . I didn't think of that . Thank you for sharing ..

[@theangelsmodellingandrailways]

Hey Anthony, you make some good points about using those cheaper products to create unique scenic shrubs. Your layout looks great, loving the waterfalls, they look superb. Will follow your progress on it. Is it modelled on anywhere specific? Thanks for sharing dude.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks for the kind comments Brian .. I experiment with anything I can get my hands on , to avoid using using commercially available modeling products , as they can get very expensive . The layout is not modeled after any specific locations ... It's just a fantasy town .. I looked many pictures ( Google images ) to figure out what I want to mimic . For ex: by looking at pics , I decided that I wanted to model the mountains after mountains in UTAH or Colorado, where they have a orange / crimson tint to them . Thats why my mountains have a crimson undertone to them . It makes the layout more lively. I also liked a lot of foliage , as it makes the scene look fresh and "alive" ... choice of colors make a big difference to the mood of your layout . Even the waterfall was made to resemble a picture I found on the internet .. If you are looking to make mountains , etc , let me know as i can share with you some very easy techniques , which makes very simple to make . Also if you are planning on gradients , I can give you some tips there as well . - I have wired my Layout to run both DC and DCC . I also use a PWM controller (for DC) , which is much better than the controllers made by model trains manufactures ... and much , much cheaper - IF you need any info on these topics , don't hesitate to shoot me an email or even send me a comment ... Regards ,Anthony .. ([e-mail])

[@LuisAcevedo-hv3bq]

Amazing!!!!

[@gordonlillich6045]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thanks you Gordon , appreciate the feedback and support . - Regards,, Anthony .

[@vickyking3408]

Spraying inside😮

[@melecioramos6114]

Nice I will be trying this

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Please take your usual precautions when working with these kinds of materials - Gloves , mask safety glasses etc .. Just use common sense and be safe .. that's all I ask .. Regards, Anthony .

[@turtleheninny]

This is brilliant. thanks

[@johnnyringo6230]

This actually looks amazing! I love how the depth is achieved as well. Only question I have is once fitted to the scene do you hit it with a matte medium and alcohol to secure it? Thanks for sharing!

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Johnny , Sorry for the late response . I use matte medium ( or even PVA Glue ) and dilute it in water and spray over it . Regards, Anthony -

[@johnnyringo6230]

@@anthonyshobbycorner, awesome! Thank you much!

[@donaldshroyer8633]

Once you have created the mat, do you not glue it down, just lay it there?

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Donald , Although I did not show it on the Video , I usually dilute some PVA glue and apply it liberally over the selected spot . Then i place the floral foam and then I spray a thin layer of spray glue to kinda seal it ..

[@donaldshroyer8633]

@@anthonyshobbycorner Thanks for clarifying.

[@robertschworm6036]

Anthony, Where can I get these large bags of Eco-Paks of ground foam? Bob S

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

hey Rob, I got these " Flock & turf - Summer Lawn" bulk packs from the local hobby store ( Markham , ontario, canada ) . i believe it is a US product . If you send me your email , i will send u some pics of the product packaging . My email is [e-mail]. Regards....

[@2sons1lv]

Omg how awesome!

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Jenny , Thank you for the kind comments . Much appreciated. I have sub'd to your channel as well . - Regards - Anthony -

[@madhusudhanraj3640]

Super

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you for the kind words. Please be careful when working with Floral foam . Please use a mask and gloves when you file down the floral foam . you want to make sure you don't inhale the fine floral foam particles. Regards, - Anthony -

[@hudson8865]

Thank you.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Hudson , You are welcome , I hope you found this video useful . Best of luck ... Regards, - Anthony -

[@gerlandkent6377]

[thank, you for youre great video]👍

[@robertschworm6036]

Anthony, Hi again. Looking at your video, there appears to be a gap from when the poly had the light foam on it with a bit of dark green foam. But in a few frames more, it appears quite thick after the painting. Was a lot more foam added here to get the height of the mat? Was it just more of the floral foam or were other foam materials added like course ground foam? Bob S

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Rob , I do apologize for perhaps some bad video editing on my part. I basically use Poly fill as the base , then add floral foam , spray some paint ( the ideal method is to use a Air Brush , which I did not have at the time ) and then put some hair spray and then add more floral foam ( to simulate thicker growth ) and then at the end I add some of that *"Flock & Turf - Summer Lawn" Eco pack* to add the desired lighter shades of color to simulate fresh growth ( which I got from my local hobby store in Toronto Canada .) If you give me your email address, I can send you some pictures of the product. my email is ([e-mail]).

[@ka5kla]

Thank you great idea

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi , Thank you for your comment . But please use proper care when working with floral foam . please use gloves and a mask etc , just so that you don't inhale the fine foam powder .. regards, Anthony

[@tishr9634]

Hi I bought polyester fill and it didn't turn out like yours at all. Is there another type of polyester fill? Thank you

Great video. I subscribe now. 👍😃

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

I very much appreciate the sub. I have sub'd to your channel as well .. You have some amazing videos ... Pity I did not come across your channel before .. I will be spending some time to go through all your vids ... Your most recent vid on the DMU is amazing .. i even love the detail on the layout ... Regards, - Anthony -

@@anthonyshobbycorner thank’s for your kind message. 👍😃

[@ManlyPHall-ce8dc]

Genius!!!

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you Manly ... Truly appreciate the comments

[@nramorrisg8415]

I tell what my mother uses Aqua Net Hairspray that hairspray is like spray adhesive and I ain't joking.

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Totally agree with you .. Hair spray is gold .. that stuff works so well .. I use it when I make my own trees etc... Regards, Anthony .

[@mackyd955]

cant believe the spray paint didnt melt the foam or polyfiber . It would be my luck

[@marcoperez6952]

What tool are you using to grate the foam?

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Marco , I use a Rasp File ( typically used for wood work etc ) . Just a cheap RASP file will work . But when working with Floral Foam , Please use the proper protection such as gloves and a face mask etc, as you want to ensure you don't inhale the powdered Floral foam .

[@combsjp]

What is your foam shaper tool called? Where can I get one?

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

hi John , I'm just using a rasp file . It's a file that is typically used in woodworking etc . The one I am using is from a local dollar store , in the hardware section I believe . Regards, - Anthony -

[@robertschworm6036]

Anthony, I see you begin with very thin poly fill. I separate the layers of poly to get to the same height. I tried your technique with the 2 colored foams and it looks great. But your final product shows quite a bit of height and texture, how do you achieve this 3 d effect since you do not seems to be applying a lot of course foam to build it up? Bob S

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Hi Bob , thanks for the comment. Basically what I do is, I first use the poly fill ( as you have outlined ) , and then I take a block of Floral foam ( the are available in rectangular blocks at arts and crafts stores or even the Dollar store. You take the floral foam and then you use a rasp file , to let the peices of foam form a layer on the poly , and you can do this a few time in random patterns to get a higher and higher layer. let the foam just drop on to the poly , and spay a layer of hair spray to make it adhere. Do not compress with your finger or any tool , as it will then loose height . Let me know if you would like me to do another video , just for you , and I can find some time to do it . also , I hope you are using the Poly fill which is used for pillows and cusions etc .. Regards, - Anthony -

[@padiedo7213]

Really good 👍BRILLIANT

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Thank you Padi , Appreciate the kind words . But please use proper protection when working with floral foam . use a mask and gloves etc .. you don't want to be inhaling that fine powerdered foam . Thanks Regards - Anthony -

[@colinporter6067]

Buy the proper scenics ,glue paint material ect not cheap , plus thd foam will break dwn over time 😂

[@liondecka9062]

realistic ;) ;) ;) thumbs down

[@anthonyshobbycorner]

Appreciate your comment .. Again ,I'm sharing what I find to be useful and perhaps might be of value to others. it may not meet the expectations of everyone ( you being one of them ) , and that's fine .. Judging from the comments I have received from many others, I believe many model railroaders have found this technique to be of value . Many of us use this platform to share and collaborate .. not to condone and criticize .. Either way , I appreciate your view and comment - Regards, - Anthony .