"static grass OR flock...?" Topic

probably a dumb question… is there a difference?

If so, what is it?

Static grass is sometimes called flock, but flock in my mind generally means the ground up dyed foam stuff that Woodland Scenics made popular. Static grass on the other hand is made of short fibers, and is nasty to breath in lol.

Interesting. I call it all flock, but use static grass. I think of the died sawdust stuff as flockk too, but I don't use it anymore.

Static grass is nicer IMO.

All of it is 'flock.' Static grass is merely a type of flock. I also think that, for example, techstar snowflakes are a type of flock. Flock can also be sand… Okay, I'll stop.

Its interesting to do a subject line earch of "flock", and see how many times it has been correctly pointed out that flock consists of fibers; and that ground foam is ground foam, ground cork is ground cork, dyed sawdust is dyed sawdust, etc.

Yet people still want to use the term "flock" indiscriminately, as you can see. And so, education fails, civilization fails, and we drift slowly into the night…

It doesn't help that WS markets their ground foam in some cases as "flock". But that doesn't make it so.

Allen

mix'em up

But Allen, flocked wallpapers don't always have fibers and those cheezy flocked Christmas trees of my youth definitely didn't have any.

Flocking hell! I didn't know flock was such a technical subject.

Static grass for miniatures or small dioramas, died sawdust for large display boards or wargame tables.

I know that GW have wargame tables with static grass patches – but I find this looks strange.

Tony
dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Static grass for miniatures or small dioramas, died sawdust for large display boards or wargame tables.

Thats what i was thinking.

I suspected that on a wargames table, "flock" (as in ground foam) would be more robust for the continued movement of toops over.

Bute "static grass" (short fibres) would add more interest and detail in 'low wear' areas like figure bases, cliff faces, around buildings, hedgerows etc…

I always use static grass for my figure bases. I sometimes use 'autumn leaves' aswell.

The flock I have is quite a luminous green and I cant imagine it going well with the less bright static grass. Does anyone actually use both flock and static grass on their bases?

I knwo what you mean swordlord about the 'luminous gree' it always seems to be far too bright for me especially in large amounts.

The reason i was asking about the differences between flock and static grass was that i suspected i shouldn't try and cover my wargaming table with static grass, so now i need to find a muted wintery green flock for the large scale stuff that matches the static grass on my bases.

You can buy static grass mats that are as durable as anything I have ever used or seen. I like the look of a whole table covered in static grass over flock myself, but I know what you mean about the GW "patchy" way they do it on their tables.

I bought some static grass mats for model RR and glued them to 2'x4' boards for my own table and have been very happy with them. I am thinking of transitioning to a PVC tub liner table of sand textured painted brown, then adding static grass (without leaving many "open" areas like GW does (the texture underneath means that if any grass wears off, it will look better than exposed material and will give the whole thing an earthy undertone).

This way, I can add hills underneath the PVC liner which gives nice and gentle slopes rather than hills of foam placed on top.

@swordlord – I use both flock and static grass on some of my bases. By flock, I mean the Woodland Scenics ground foam stuff.

I generally paint the base green, then paint it over with watered down PVA glue and cover it with flock. Then, while the glue isn't quite dry I'll add "tufts" of static grass here and there. Sometimes I'll add a tiny rock or two (painted) and have bits of static grass around those too.

When I really want to go wild, I also add taller grasses using Woodland Scenics "field grass".

Keith:

Are you out of your flocking mind? I oughta kick your flocking static grass right out the door… but my PVC has been acting up lately, so you get a pass this time buddy.

I like using all types of scenery material, despite the correct nomenclature. But it is good to know that "flock" should contain fibers only.

Chalfant

flock[2] (flŏk) pronunciation
n.

1. A tuft, as of fiber or hair.
2. Waste wool or cotton used for stuffing furniture and mattresses.
3. An inferior grade of wool added to cloth for extra weight.
4. Pulverized wool or felt that is applied to paper, cloth, or metal to produce a texture or pattern.
5. See floccule.

Dictionary:
floccule
(flŏk'yūl) pronunciation

n.

A small, loosely held mass or aggregate of fine particles, resembling a tuft of wool and suspended in or precipitated from a solution. Also called flock.

From Webster's:
Main Entry:
3flock
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English flok, from Anglo-French, from Latin floccus
Date:
13th century

1 : a tuft of wool or cotton fiber 2 : woolen or cotton refuse used for stuffing furniture and mattresses 3 : very short or pulverized fiber used especially to form a velvety pattern on cloth or paper or a protective covering on metal 4 : floc

Lets try to get a definition;

Static Grass – small nylon fibres (3-4mm long) comes in a range of straw and green colours. Glue on in small patches (rare for all table covering).

Static Grass Mat or sheets – as above but already glued down to paper backing, again used by Model railway modellers and some GW stores, quick but I would suggest not too durable.

(Please note I know that you can aslo get different textures and length of fibres from some German Model Railway manufacturers – Nock etc, and anyone thinking about experimenting should take the time to visit a good railway modelling store – at the very least a good railway modelling magazine!)

Ground Foam – just that comes in a wide variety of colours and different courseness (if that the right word).

Died Sawdust – as used by model railway modellers, huge range of colours and different qualities.

I use all three but for different reasons.

The died sawdust for wargame boards, the ground foam for interest and texture and static grass because it looks nice!

Don't forget died towel material!

Have I missed anything?

Tony
dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com