Ground Cover Basics
Bare painted terrain looks like a desert. Ground cover adds the texture and color that makes a scene feel alive. The basic process is simple: spread white glue (thinned 50/50 with water plus a drop of dish soap), then sprinkle on texture materials.
Static Grass
Static grass is applied with a special tool that charges the fibers with static electricity, making them stand upright like real grass. The results are remarkably realistic.
- Apply a thin layer of white glue to the area.
- Load 4-6mm static grass fibers into the applicator.
- Hold the ground wire in the glue and puff the grass onto the surface.
- Let dry overnight, then vacuum up the loose fibers.
Scatter Materials
Fine turf, coarse turf, and talus (loose rock) from Woodland Scenics or similar brands cover a wide range of ground textures. Layer them — fine turf first, then coarse turf and clump foliage — for depth and variety.
Making Trees
Commercial tree kits are convenient, but you can mass-produce convincing trees from natural materials:
- Armatures — Use dried sea foam, sage brush, or twisted wire for trunks and branches.
- Foliage — Spray the armature with adhesive and press on polyfiber or fine leaf foliage.
- Variety — Vary heights, trunk angles, and foliage density. Real forests are never uniform.
Plant trees in clusters, not evenly spaced rows. Nature is random, and your layout should reflect that.
