Great idea. Not all model railway static grass areas are large. Most of mine are as small or smaller than what you are showing in order to get grass beside tracks in townships or industrial areas. This is an awesome tip. Thanks heaps. Mon
Brilliant idea. It's simple and much better than the usual devices that come with these applicators. I'm a train guy rather than a wargamer but this looks even better for railway terrain than the one i currently have.
How have I not seen this fantastic tip until now?? 5 years late but it is still a genius idea, and I've just started with the static grass section of my model layout so this will be perfect. Thank you ☺
@@TheTerrainTutor I tried it yesterday and it worked a treat. Even on a larger area it meant I could make sure the current was running close by. Thanks again mate
Just getting into HO railroad layouts and LOVE your videos. So full of good tips and tricks and methods, but this one? This one is brilliant! Thanks for the idea, because it works on big layouts, too. There are tight and small places that need to be reached.
Nice idea I have loads of these home made static grass applicators for my model railway however if I need to do a small area such as grass patches in an area where I am not doing a field for example I could do with one of these pens to use instead of the nail or pin. Neat idea love static grass :D
Nice mod Mel.. have taken the idea one stage further, I purchased a Maxwell Multimeter Test Probe kit off of eBay UK, it consists of a couple of meter leads with interchangable probe ends - which can be Probes (like your ballpoint probe), alligator clips or spade connectors. The original grass applicator lead is replaced with one of the Multimeter Probe leads, so instead of an aligator clip on the end of it you have have an insutated threaded socket, to which you can attach by screwing togeter the probe, clip or spade connectors.. So you can end up with a dedicated insulated probe, an insulated alligator clip or a forked spade connector that will fit up to a 6mm nut and bolt..
This looks ingenious. I haven't acquired an applicator yet but I'm running out of homemade materials and want to upgrade. This looks like a nearly mandatory modification!
Truly brilliant insight Mel. I will build one of these stylus devices to play with on the weekend. I will also be trying the metal lid from a biscuit tin as well.
TheTerrainTutor That’s how the world’s greatest inventions and discovery are found. People with great mind tinkering then testing their ideas, like you. Not everyone come up with insightful ideas like you no matter how long and hard we think. Unlike many others, you think outside the box and always come up with better way to do things in a cost efficient way. I’ve learned so much from watching your tutorials and the tips/tricks you have given. You surely have a talent and amazing ability to come up with helpful ideas. I’ve learned so much more from watching you in 1week than watching others in past 3-4weeks. Please keep up the good work and I’m certain your hard work as well as the time put into your videos are much appreciated.
Nice tip (pun intended). I've sometimes just forgone the pin and just shaken it over the area by itself. Still produces the upright grass, but having the pin makes it fill easier. I'll be adapting this for sure. Thanks for posting. :)
Wow...REALLY good idea! I will definitely keep this in mind when I get going on using static grass for my own projects. Also, I'm very glad to see all your videos...very well done and helpful. Keep up the good work mate!
TheTerrainTutor Haha! Brilliant. Your two "Assistants" (Children) didn't mind, especially the cheeky chappy you had helping with the Battlefield in a Box ruins. Nice to see she is supportive and you, like me, are lucky enough to have a space to work.
drill a little hole in the middle part of the plastic tube ( at 90 deg. to the tube ) then screw a little bolt or a nut to clamp the bras wire inside the tube and make it stop from sliding up and down . No need for glue , pins , sticky tape or anything else . Use the "screw/nut" to make (re-adjust) the length of Your wire at will :) - $1.000.000 idea right there ! HA ! - ow - I just thought a bit more on that - it would also help if that "bolt" or "nut" would be plastic . Metal ones will conduct electricity and You still might get a spark/jump , so try to find a small plastic nut screw or something like that .... :)
artyfarty3 This is just my assumption and I might be wrong. But I don’t think he glued the brass rod’s tip for the sole purpose of avoiding the vertical movement. I’m assuming he placed the PVA soaked tissue tightly around the rod, then superglued the tip to make it stationary, hence the ability to bend it as shown near the end of the video, which he stated as being handy. Your idea is very good but I think the rod’s tip might not be stationary and move about, since it’s being held only by the clamp through the drilled hole in the middle of the pen. Without the tightly packed PVA soaked tissue, I think the rod’s tip will move around horizontally because of the gap between the rim of the pen’s tip and the rod’s tip. This is just my two cents :)
um question i love the idea but just one problem is can't find any pyrotubes anywhere (im US) what could i use instead if any 1 could help me that would be amazing i love the idea just cant make it ;)
"Biro" is a brand name for pens that has become genericized in the UK. In the US, the closest equivalent would be "Bic pen". Find a dead one, pop out the pen part, insert some brass rod (or a straightened large paper clip) and Robert's your mother's brother. (Translation: "You'll be in like Flynn". 8-) )
![ทุกครั้งที่หลับตา (Lucid Dream) - AYLA's [ Official MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4i1OBAQyv58/mqdefault.jpg)
Great idea.
Not all model railway static grass areas are large.
Most of mine are as small or smaller than what you are showing in order to get grass beside tracks in townships or industrial areas.
This is an awesome tip.
Thanks heaps.
Mon
Brilliant idea. It's simple and much better than the usual devices that come with these applicators. I'm a train guy rather than a wargamer but this looks even better for railway terrain than the one i currently have.
How have I not seen this fantastic tip until now?? 5 years late but it is still a genius idea, and I've just started with the static grass section of my model layout so this will be perfect. Thank you ☺
Hope it helps mate
@@TheTerrainTutor I tried it yesterday and it worked a treat. Even on a larger area it meant I could make sure the current was running close by. Thanks again mate
Glad it helped mate
Just getting into HO railroad layouts and LOVE your videos. So full of good tips and tricks and methods, but this one? This one is brilliant! Thanks for the idea, because it works on big layouts, too. There are tight and small places that need to be reached.
Hope it helps mate
Nice idea I have loads of these home made static grass applicators for my model railway however if I need to do a small area such as grass patches in an area where I am not doing a field for example I could do with one of these pens to use instead of the nail or pin. Neat idea love static grass :D
***** Cheers mate
Nice mod Mel.. have taken the idea one stage further, I purchased a Maxwell Multimeter Test Probe kit off of eBay UK, it consists of a couple of meter leads with interchangable probe ends - which can be Probes (like your ballpoint probe), alligator clips or spade connectors. The original grass applicator lead is replaced with one of the Multimeter Probe leads, so instead of an aligator clip on the end of it you have have an insutated threaded socket, to which you can attach by screwing togeter the probe, clip or spade connectors.. So you can end up with a dedicated insulated probe, an insulated alligator clip or a forked spade connector that will fit up to a 6mm nut and bolt..
That's going full bore matey!
This looks ingenious. I haven't acquired an applicator yet but I'm running out of homemade materials and want to upgrade. This looks like a nearly mandatory modification!
Spencer Whipple Thanks matey :-)
Truly brilliant insight Mel. I will build one of these stylus devices to play with on the weekend. I will also be trying the metal lid from a biscuit tin as well.
James Evans I'm always messing around :-)
TheTerrainTutor That’s how the world’s greatest inventions and discovery are found. People with great mind tinkering then testing their ideas, like you. Not everyone come up with insightful ideas like you no matter how long and hard we think. Unlike many others, you think outside the box and always come up with better way to do things in a cost efficient way. I’ve learned so much from watching your tutorials and the tips/tricks you have given. You surely have a talent and amazing ability to come up with helpful ideas. I’ve learned so much more from watching you in 1week than watching others in past 3-4weeks. Please keep up the good work and I’m certain your hard work as well as the time put into your videos are much appreciated.
Great idea!! I think I will modify it a step further to make the stylus removable, for when I am making lots of little tufts of grass.
+Kurt Kier Yep, just don't tape up the croc clip at the end mate ;-)
Nice tip (pun intended). I've sometimes just forgone the pin and just shaken it over the area by itself. Still produces the upright grass, but having the pin makes it fill easier. I'll be adapting this for sure. Thanks for posting. :)
Glad you found it useful mate
Very clever, can't wait to watch more of your videos. I like how in the UK you say "crocodile clip" where in the USA we call them "alligator clips".
ppsh43 Thanks matey. I do like all the little differences between our shared language too. :-D
Wow...REALLY good idea! I will definitely keep this in mind when I get going on using static grass for my own projects.
Also, I'm very glad to see all your videos...very well done and helpful.
Keep up the good work mate!
Glad you found it useful matey. Cheers !
Have not been brave enough to get mine working yet, this might get me motivated!
Do it mate, be brave!
Excellent idea, well done!
It certainly is a brilliant tip ... quality, cheers
Great tip and nice modifications. Also, top marks for recruiting a new camera-person! All the best mate.
Cheers mate, and yeah, so far it's I'll help as long as I don't have to speak or go in front of the camera lol.
TheTerrainTutor
Haha! Brilliant. Your two "Assistants" (Children) didn't mind, especially the cheeky chappy you had helping with the Battlefield in a Box ruins. Nice to see she is supportive and you, like me, are lucky enough to have a space to work.
Indeed, where would we be without of beloved ones lol
A grand wee mod there, thank you for the tip.
hmmmmmmmmmm sketchy glad you liked it mate :-)
Very cool mods to the tool.
Cheers mate
Awesome tip! Would a plastic pen casing work as well?
drill a little hole in the middle part of the plastic tube ( at 90 deg. to the tube ) then screw a little bolt or a nut to clamp the bras wire inside the tube and make it stop from sliding up and down . No need for glue , pins , sticky tape or anything else . Use the "screw/nut" to make (re-adjust) the length of Your wire at will :) - $1.000.000 idea right there ! HA ! - ow - I just thought a bit more on that - it would also help if that "bolt" or "nut" would be plastic . Metal ones will conduct electricity and You still might get a spark/jump , so try to find a small plastic nut screw or something like that .... :)
artyfarty3 This is just my assumption and I might be wrong. But I don’t think he glued the brass rod’s tip for the sole purpose of avoiding the vertical movement. I’m assuming he placed the PVA soaked tissue tightly around the rod, then superglued the tip to make it stationary, hence the ability to bend it as shown near the end of the video, which he stated as being handy. Your idea is very good but I think the rod’s tip might not be stationary and move about, since it’s being held only by the clamp through the drilled hole in the middle of the pen. Without the tightly packed PVA soaked tissue, I think the rod’s tip will move around horizontally because of the gap between the rim of the pen’s tip and the rod’s tip. This is just my two cents :)
nice idea and well executed :)
Thanks :o)
Hi. We would be appreciated if you could make a tutorial on how to make a static grass applicator?. the same one used in your Video..
WOW what a fantastic tip. Thanks for sharing. What was the brass wire from ?
just from a model shop mate
Great massage thankyou ❤
Cracking idea!
Scott Dallimore thanks mate
Amazing tool and tip!
cheers mate
I never eve heard of a static grass applicator before :)
You'll love 'em mate, the effects are great!
Now to find one in Sweden then :)
Hey boss great tip
um question i love the idea but just one problem is can't find any pyrotubes anywhere (im US) what could i use instead if any 1 could help me that would be amazing i love the idea just cant make it ;)
instructions on how to make from a fly swatter on youtube mate
ya, i did that I just want the pen thingy you had, awesome idea by the way :)
"Biro" is a brand name for pens that has become genericized in the UK. In the US, the closest equivalent would be "Bic pen". Find a dead one, pop out the pen part, insert some brass rod (or a straightened large paper clip) and Robert's your mother's brother. (Translation: "You'll be in like Flynn". 8-) )
Doug Sundseth kk man thx alot
you could use a straw or plastic tubing from a fish tank air tube or any type of non conductive tubing.. great idea Mel winner winner chicken dinner
Great tip! Thanks!
No worries mate
Hello my grass applicator suddenly lost a lot of power, why is this?
i have a simular one for my trains,i clip alligator clip to the sive with a nail in other end of clip just for tight spots like betweeen rocks
I kept shocking myself when I tried that, hence the pen idea mate
I like the pen idea
amazing! tnx!
Thanks !