Technique for Effective Use of Rubberised Horsehair?

[Silent Invader]

I have some moss green rubberised horsehair that I’m intending to use for semi-arid waist-high scrub (Old West games, etc).

Does anyone have tips on how to make it look scale-realistic? I find that when I tear it, it becomes one long string of loose fibres whereas rolling it produces a compact wad, neither of which is the look I’m after.

Cheers.  

[YPU]

I have no idea but am curious to hear any tips you get.

[Malamute]

I have some moss green rubberised horsehair that I’m intending to use for semi-arid waist-high scrub (Old West games, etc).

Does anyone have tips on how to make it look scale-realistic? I find that when I tear it, it becomes one long string of loose fibres whereas rolling it produces a compact wad, neither of which is the look I’m after.

Cheers.  

Steve, I used it for the Ulzana's Raid game. I think it looks most effective when its glued to 25mm round bases rather than larger ones.
 I tease it out so its not a flat wad and just cut off the long loose ends. It works from a distance, but I guess doesn't bear close scrutiny.

[Silent Invader]

Thanks Nick. Looking back at your photos I see now that it’s based. That clearly makes a diffrrence as it defeats the springiness that lifts it off the ground. Ta. 

[Silent Invader]

I just found this post by Overlord

1. Take some rubberised horsehair and a pair of scissors.
2. Cut off a piece of horsehair approx. 1" cubed.
3. Trim into a rough ball shape with the scissors.
4. Place on table.
5. Yes kids, you can even blow it across the table.

 Cheesy

From here:

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=54386.0

[Vagabond]

This is far too easy - you need a much harder way of doing it surely

I've just googled tumbleweed images and this way would be perfect. These things are round balls so it's natural springiness is probably what you need.

[Silent Invader]

I think my mistake was to tear it apart rather than using scissors 

[Mako]

I would reserve it, and use it for other things.

For the tumbleweeds, depending upon scale, I'd either use those synthetic, green, scrubbing pads, pull and tease the material out into a loose ball, and spray either tan/sand, light gray, or a mix of the two.  Leave loose, so you can just scatter them about the table, instead of basing them.  Works for 15mm - 25mm/28mm scale, I suspect.

For larger figs, or larger tumbleweeds, on this side of the pond, you can get fibrous, low-cost, air filters for home furnaces.  They're a jumble of either synthetic, or natural fibers, and here, are frequently green-blue in color.  Pinch/cut off a bit, tease out if needed (probably doesn't in many cases), and use scissors to cut to shape.  Paint, as above.

Simple, and very low cost for either method.

Enjoy!

[Silent Invader]

Thanks though tumbleweed isn’t something I had planned to add - that’s just the direction the conversation followed.  . I’ll be using it for scrub.

[Mako]

Dried, reindeer moss clumps would work too.

I suspect the railroad hobby shops probably already have some in suitable colors - very light green for Spring, and dusty tan/gray for the rest of the year.

[Eric the Shed]

Don't forget to soak it in Superglue first....

[YPU]

Don't forget to soak it in Superglue first....

This!

So many of my early modelling projects look rather sad these days because I didn't do anything to fix the stuff.

[Silent Invader]

Thanks chaps for your thoughts/advice. Just to stay focussed, it’s the use of rubberised horse hair that I’m interested in rather than alternative products.  . I’ve previously tried scrubbing pads, filters, lichen etc but not the horse hair, thus my current quest.