Yellow Grass - Woodland Scenics

The dried yellow of late summer

Loose grass turf in a parched grass shade is a material for a landscape that has had no proper rain for weeks. That is exactly how a margin beside a field track looks at the end of August, an embankment along a railroad, or a meadow nobody has taken a mower to. The shade also suits the ground around military vehicles on a summer campaign, where ruts expose dry growth.

The grain is coarse. Against fine turf it does not make a smooth lawn but a broken carpet with visible structure, which holds its depth in a macro photograph of a model. The pigment is worked into the material, so it does not wash out and does not change tone even after fixing. The package takes 945 cm³, that is 57.7 cubic inches, and is enough for an extensive diorama area.

Application procedure

Brush the base with thinned white glue, sprinkle the turf from a height of a few centimeters and let it fall freely. Once dry, turn the model over a sheet of paper and return the loose grains. Full intensity comes from repeating the step in two or three layers. Blending in a darker tone gives the growth a depth that a single color never has.

The material does not belong only on the ground. Glued to a wire or foam armature it serves as the foliage of a bush; scattered along the edge of a water surface it makes a band of dry reeds. It is usable from a garden railroad down to a small display scene.

Before building it is worth considering how much material a scene will consume. A grassy area the size of an A4 board eats a surprising amount when layered, so a larger package usually pays off better than several small ones. The shade stays the same between purchases, so a landscape in progress can be finished even after a long break.