I’m looking to scratch build some hay bales for a dio I’m thinking of doing in 1/35 scale. I’m not sure what to use as the “hay” I’ve heard that the bristled from an old pain brush might do the trick but I’m thinking that the bristles might look a little to uniform. Anyone have any suggestions on what to use???
I don’t know what they use, but Hudson & Allen sells this:
https://www.modelmecca.com/cgi-bin/shop.pl?go=Search&partnumber=HS%209506
heres a way that I have seen. Take bunch of dead grass or weeds, or tiny (thin) pieces of straw, or actual Hay (the type of hay that would look right is called grass hay). Then hold them in your hand with one end sticking out. Then Tie the bundel together with twin or whatever you what. Then switch sides, and repeat. Once both sides are tied you will have some pieces just hanging out, all you have to do is cut them off, and thats it.
Just an Idea I have seen, It looks ok, and if righ materials are used it could look really cool. Well, hope that gives you an idea.
I scratchbuilt some bales buy buying some shreaded wood used for nesting type material that I pick up from hobby lobby. I used scissors to cut it into smaller bits. This was a long hard process where I picked up a hand full, started cutting like I was trimming a hedge, over and over again into a large bag/bowl. Then I used a flour sifter to get the smallest pieces. Next I took small styrofoam blocks the size I wanted and using white glue, sprinkle the bits onto it. I think it took 3 or 4 applications to look good. Then I sprinkled bits around the bales to look like loose hay. It turn out pretty good. Unfortunately, I can show you any pictures because I did the dio for a friend I used to work with.
If your interested, I’ll see if I can’t get the name of the stuff I used and maybe I can even find some of the leftovers and throw one together.
Don
Don
ya if you could find out the name of the stuff that woud be cool. ive taken a quick look at a couple of the local craft stores but havent found anything that would do the trick so far. the maretial is the biggest sticking point for me so far. i have a couple ideas of how to put them together but can figure out what to use
Jimi,you could buy some modeling clay or regular clay cut and form squares out of it.Once this is done coat with white glue and roll it in some grass or Thyme which is a spice.Once dry get some thin wire which you can get at any Wal-mart or craft store and tye both ends.This will give you the realistic effect you are looking for and after which you can paint and shade to what you desirer.Digger
p.s.I would useThyme-spice due to it is long and thin needle like,which at 35 scale is perfect.
jimi, I haven’t been able to get to Hobby Lobby yet. it’s 30 miles and I’ve been working 12 hour shifts. I hope to make it this weekend. I did look around Walmart and found some moss that might work for green bales. They also had a lot of halloween and Thanksgiving decorations that might do the trick.
As far as getting the stuff cut down to size, I found some of the stuff I have began cutting in a bowl and tried reducing it to make it finer with a coffee bean grinder that I had pick up a while back. It did a pretty good job of cutting it down. Of course it doesn’t cut it down into long straws, but once it’s glued onto the foam, it does a pretty good job. I wish I had a digital camera so you could see what I’m talking about.
I could mail you some but the postman might turn me in for making hay under the new Homeland Security acts and I’m too good looking to go to jail…[:D]
Anyway, I’ll keep looking for the name of the stuff I originally used.
Don
I made hay bales from small wood blocks, sanded off the sharp corners to get the right shape. I cut the “hay” from twine, cutting it into bits about 1/8" to 3/32" long. Coat the block with white glue and roll in the twine bits.
Works for me.
TrainClown
Jimi,
My dad made little bales of hay for our toy barn, tractors and other farm equipment when we were kids. For the hay he just used dried lawn clippings. Works the best because they are thin and when dried last a long time.
To make them, cut a small piece of wood rectangular shape about the siz of the end of the bale you want. Then cut four longer rectangular strips of wood about as wide but longer than your desired bale, but make two of these longer pieces narrower. Fasten the strips onto the four sides of the smaller pice so you have box shape, but you want gaps at the corners. Now take two pieces of scale baling twine (if there is such a thing, or whatever type of string you want to use) and lay them across the bottom of the box so the ends go through the gaps at the corners. Fill the box with grass clippings and pack tight, then lift the ‘twine’ up and around the ‘hay’ in the box and tie at the ends. You may have to temporarily tie each side so you get the ‘hay’ tight and uniform.
Dad made this work really well and was able to make the bales look real. We had a lot fun with our tay barn and hay loft.
Hope this helps.
Steve
I finally made it to hobby lobby. the material I used was called “WonderWood.” It comes in a bag and runs about $1.57. You can find it in the flower/plant sections next to the mosses.
HTH
Don
Here’s digging up an goldin’ oldie. I have made some hay bales using sponges and glued on thyme. Looks great, but I am wondering what paint is everybody using to get that yellow gold look of the mature hay bales?