I need straw!

[Thunderchicken]

 Hi all,

I asked this question a few years a go and I think the best option back then was painting toothbrush bristles. To be honest I couldn't be bothered with that so left it.

Is anyone aware of where I can find something that resembles straw for 28mm builds? It's straw that can be spread over yards and streets etc. rather than bales. 

Thanks. 

[sukhe_bator]

You can use plumbers hemp - basically a skein of unravelled fibres.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KzmtVkAsL.jpg
Chop it up - the fibres will be about the right scale thickness. Some die-hard modellers also use it for thatching

[Silent Invader]

I've previously used bristles cut from a decorators paint brush: the straw-coloured nylon bristles from I think a very wide emulsion brush.

[dampfpanzerwagon]

I've used the bristles from a wallpaper paste brush.

Tony

[Svennn]

Woodland Scenic Harvest Gold field grass?

[Silent Invader]

Tony's right - it wasn't an emulsion brush but a paste brush

[grant]

I've previously used bristles cut from a decorators paint brush: the straw-coloured nylon bristles from I think a very wide emulsion brush.

This is what I do, too. There are straw-coloured brushes, cut them off, and done. Easy!

[Connectamabob]

I've used jute twine. Cut off a wee nib, and roll it between your fingers to separate the fibers.

[Thunderchicken]

You clever lot! 

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Cubs]

For horse-poo and bits of straw I use yellow static grass rolled in woodglue (into balls then stained with brown ink for horse poo lumps, or just smeared about on the base a bit for general straw bits).

[Dolmot]

I got piles from coir door mats (used as fields, of course). Zero work required as plenty will fall off by itself, and it already has quite plausible colour and length. They'll also match your fields, which kind of makes sense...

No perfect closeups available but try this and this.

[FramFramson]

Another vote for the naturally straw-coloured cheap brush bristles, it's what I've used.

[snitcythedog]

I've used jute twine. Cut off a wee nib, and roll it between your fingers to separate the fibers.

Another vote here.  The nice thing is that when you clip and unravel the strands they tend to be twisted and bent.   They tend look more natural than straight materials. The strands also in most cases have natural variation in color.  My two cents.
Snitchy sends.

[MediumAl]

2nd vote for coir. You can get bundles of it from pet shops - sold for nesting material for birds. I have a thread on Corn Stooks which show it in use. If I wanted Hay, I would use plumbers hemp, because it's finer. Mixture might look good, but I've never tried that.
If it is used for spreading over areas that take any traffic, I'd be tempted to use a mortar and pestle to bash it a bit to represent the battering it would take in places.

[Thunderchicken]

Thanks very much gents. I'll probably try all of these ideas and see which one works for me.