Throw a match ?

Not having a static grass applicator and the wish to have tall grass I got thinking on how best to model tall grass.  Since the season of the layout will be late summer, I want to model a dry summers environment.

I had some branch netting which I bought many moons ago and thought of the idea of making tall grass and securing this to fly netting.  I think it looks pretty good although it took me a very long time to individually plant the grass into the mesh.  Each mat took me about six hours to do.

I ran out of the branch netting but luckly I had some jute and proceeded to make grass from the jute.  Now I have ran out of jute so tall grass making has stopped for now.

I haven't permanently secured the mat to the benchwork as yet.

What do you guys think?  Is it too long or does it not look any good?

Pass me the Plaster...

Now that I have my track-plan bedded down, I have been totally consumed with scenery and have more time to think about scenery and do some work in this area.  I have gone with the cardboard strip method also know as Hard Shell scenery I believe.  Yes, there are many ways to do scenery, and I like this method as advocated by Joe Fugate in one of his writings.  As he says if a mistake is made, it is reasonably easy to remove the scenery and start again.  Also, it is very cheap, with only a hot glue-gun and hot glue sticks required, and you need to cut some thick card-board strip which cost nothing.

The only issue I find with this method is the use of a Hot Glue gun.  When hot, the glue creates alot of glue-strings.  It's little messy but not too much effort to clean up.  On top of the cardboard strips, I use 1 inch masking tape then apply a plaster mix.  This one is used on Geoffs' layout and is really an excellent product to work with.

I have also put some more time into the trees, trying to make them more fuller and real.  I think I am getting there slowly.  Now I cannot stop to admire the beauty in the wild trees when I go for walks or when driving. 

Here is a brief video showing the progress so far and some photos of the trees.  Off-course this is not completed as I would like to add grass, fences, more trees, some water, shrubs and more earth hues.