You might try freezing the crayons and a cheese grater and making the finds without a pencil sharpener, I am not keen on the crayon method as they can re-melt if layout catches the sun or is in a hot attic. I have made it before using a wire brush attachment on a dremel and just rasping bits off a piece of coloured plastic!
Crayons!! OMG, so brilliant I can't believe I didn't think of it myself! Here I am using things like salt! As for the stems... cheap paint brush bristles.
Bloody brilliant! I am definitely stealing my children's crayons and giving it a go. Fantastic video, easy to follow and outstanding results. Many thanks!
Andy.... So sorry I've only just managed to watch your video. However, IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! So greatful that you share your tips & skills with us. You're such a pleasure to watch & as always I am awed by the work you produce. Keep these videos coming & I hope your channel grows more because you certainly deserve it to. Look after yourself my friend & I await your nrxt tutorial..
Really great tips ! Things I have never seen before and I have watched my fair share of miniature making videos .. !! 5:50 SO Satisfying !!! I love this tip !
I'm building a layout for my late fathers loco collection. Being a very keen gardener myself, plants are important to me on the layout. Buying in ready made plants is mega expensive but your techniques are impressive. I'm looking forward to giving it a go. Cheers.
Thanks very much Andy for putting up this tutorial so quickly, fascinating! I already use the wax crayon method but your method of making the flowers is excellent and I shall be making quite a few batches as well as the tufts. My pro grass box never seems to work as well as that though, must try a new battery. One method I have recently used for bullrush type tufts in a stream is to take a good bunch of field grass, cut off the straggly end, add a length of black thread with a slip knot at the length required, wrap round a few times and add superglue around the knot. Cut off the other end at the same length, spray superglue (I prefer mitre bond) activator and then cut off either side of the thread leaving 2 tufts glued together at the base ready for planting with scenic glue. One again, thanks Andy. Cheers Steve
Thanks, Andy - this is a great tutorial! I also like the tip from TimberSurf about using plastic vs crayons, but I'll be raiding my granddaughter's Crayola stash right away ;-D Just subscribed and grabbed another cup of coffee ... settling in to watch more of your vids this morning. Cheers from North Carolina, USA
wow.. everything looks so realistic, from colors, proportions, the congruence of the environment with the type of vegetation. Thanks for the tips! I hope I can apply some
didnt even think of using crayons, that would be definitely easier and likely cheaper than first trying to find some foam online and ordering it, every store sells some cheap crayons. now the final problem with my fantasy knights has been solved.
Very nice Andy and a good refresher for me. Bought the WWS Micro, Mini and Box nearly 4 years ago and still not really used to fullest potential. This has inspired me to have another look at them and make a few. Thanks for sharing…Chris
Hi Andy. I've just found your channel and I've subscribed instantly. An excellent video featuring truly beautiful work. Nothing makes a diorama look more interesting and more realistic than realistic vegetation and yours is amongst the best I've seen. I have a question. Have you tried sticking the crayon-dust to the stems of your flowers using tiny blobs of cyanoacrylate glue and did it work? I ask because I have experimented with various methods for making 'indestructible' plants, flowers, bushes and trees for my 'ever-lasting', multi-pose, reusable, diorama', essentially so that the whole diorama can be vacuum-cleaned and jet-washed to get rid of the dust without causing any damage. I've actually just cleaned 6 years of accumulated dust from my WIP diorama using said machines and my Seafoam hedgerow, whilst reinforced with PVA, is looking a bit worse for wear. LOL. So my hedgerow will have to be repaired and improved. I will DEFINITELY be using your crayon method for the undergrowth if the CA glue works. I love your foxgloves! OH, and a tip for you. When you make the double-ended flowers and cut them in half, why not AT FIRST, stick loads of bunches of stems along a narrow strip of sticky-tape, so the stems stick out both sides. Run PVA along the edges of the tape to fix all of the bunches at their 'snip off points', apply the flowers to both ends, then snip all the bunches off in one go? It would speed up the process and be far easier and faster process, especially for those like me who are 'cack-handed' with nerve-damage. Now I must have a look through your back-catalogue of vids. I may be some time. LOL Cheers. B.
Thank you very much, I have just subbed to your channel. I haven't tried the glue method but it's worth a try to toughen them up! Your point about the stems and using sticky tape is a great idea and I'll have to try it the next time I make flowers - anything to speed up the process!! Everything I do seems to take forever and I usually wish I'd done it differently! All the best :)
Hi Andy, nice to 'meet' you. Thanks for subbing. Much appreciated. You sound a lot like me then. I have an idea, try it and then fiddle with the method to improve it, but then end up fiddling even more. The problem is that one can improve every method, again and again until you spend several years making just one hyper-realistic 1/35th scale oak tree. LOL One has to strike a balance. But, I am forever trying to find ways to speed things up, make things easier whilst retaining an acceptable level of realism. That is the most important thing in my book. Originally, that was because I hated wasting time and energy, but more recently I developed an illness with progressive nerve damage and find it harder and harder to do the fiddly stuff, so my 'hacks' came in handy and hence my channel name. My videos are pretty awful though LOL.
I have all of my modelling stuff in the garage so it's relatively cool. I just opened a jar of wax I made over a year ago and after a quick stir, it was absolutely fine.
I have a Noch Grassmaster Mk 1.. about 15 years old.. looking to replace with a WWS Grand static grass applicator..now my question is.. do I need the tuft maker as well? I will be using a lot of tufts... your thoughts please
Hi Roy. My personal experience, although limited, is that the grass box creates better tufts than an applicator. However, it might just be my technique which is lacking so if you only have the applicator you can still get great results. I have two applicators and the box and use them all for different things but was lucky enough to win two of them. If budget isn't an issue, it's nice to have all of them!
@@DartsideScenics I'm lucky in that my budget is fairly generous.. I have just ordered the Tuft box and will order the WWS Grand next month perhaps. I get my fibre's and glue from a professional flocking company (Thomas and Vines) and it is much cheaper than elsewhere.. although they only do 2mm maximum so will need to multi layer the tufts etc....as a train driver I see the near lineside every day and I think tufts will provide a much more realistic appearance than just flocking over scenery thanks for replying .. great channel
@@trainmanroysmodelrailroadh7686 excellent! I look forward to seeing the results. It sounds like you have the perfect job to get inspiration for modelling. Best wishes. Andy
That Crayola technique is BRILLIANT! CHEAP, ENDLESS COLORS, EASY....PLUS PLUS PLUS!!! So cool when someone shares a bright idea !!!
Thanks Lorrie! 😁
You are an artist thank you so much for sharing your video with us🌻
Thank you! 😊
I was thinking cheese grater for crayons , Thanks for sharing
@@michaelreste 😊👍🏻
Excellent, really useful tips, thank you.
Thanks Dennis, I’m glad it was useful
Great stuff and not just a railway modeller but a MODELLER 👌😎☕️ Fred smelling the coffee and enjoying the extra tips for my creations 😊
Thanks very much Fred 👍🏻
Brilliant Andy, what patience you have.
Thank you Grandma Brookes!!
classy presentation, great ideas.
Thank you Steve
Fantastic tutorial lots of crayons in my house unused now i have a use for them.
Thanks David, I’m glad the video was useful.
Wonderful video like and subscribed from Czech Republic 🙂👍👍👍
Thank you
@@DartsideScenics you're welcome 🙂
Crayons! I've been looking for this tip for ages, thank you! Beautiful realistic work.
Thank you! I’m glad it helped 😊
Excellent tutorial, Thanks
Thank you 😊
Excellent idea using wax crayons. ... many thanks for sharing.
Thanks Stephen
Gracias por compartir tus conocimientos. Saludos desde Montevideo Uruguay
Gracias 😊
Excellent tips thankyou for the video
Thanks Mark
Excellent! Thank You.
Thanks David
You might try freezing the crayons and a cheese grater and making the finds without a pencil sharpener, I am not keen on the crayon method as they can re-melt if layout catches the sun or is in a hot attic. I have made it before using a wire brush attachment on a dremel and just rasping bits off a piece of coloured plastic!
Ah, plastic is a great idea (might need to steal that!!)
Would spray or brushed on varnish on the flowers afterwards solve the melting issue? Avoiding the tufts to stop potential beading.
You are a mother freaking genius, sir. Thank you!
😂😂 thank you!
Crayons!! OMG, so brilliant I can't believe I didn't think of it myself! Here I am using things like salt! As for the stems... cheap paint brush bristles.
Cheers Erik 😁
Nice tutorial, thanks!
Thank you 😊
You're a wizard.
Barry.Devon
Thanks Barry! 😁
Awesome video, thanks so much
Thanks David
Bloody brilliant! I am definitely stealing my children's crayons and giving it a go. Fantastic video, easy to follow and outstanding results. Many thanks!
Thank you and good luck. Please send my apologies to your children! 😂
Lo mas realista que he visto en campos, arbustos y flores
muy amable de su parte. Gracias
wonderful
Thank you
Thanks, that's great
Very effective. Thanks for info.
Thanks Basil
Great tip on the ws long grass at the start. Like that. 👍
Thanks Tim 👍🏻
Total genius ❤❤❤
Thank you!! 😊
Andy.... So sorry I've only just managed to watch your video. However, IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT! So greatful that you share your tips & skills with us. You're such a pleasure to watch & as always I am awed by the work you produce.
Keep these videos coming & I hope your channel grows more because you certainly deserve it to. Look after yourself my friend & I await your nrxt tutorial..
Thanks Phil! I really appreciate your support 😊
Great video, clear and simple instructions, trying it out right now. Thanks
Thank you. Have fun 😁
Really great tips ! Things I have never seen before and I have watched my fair share of miniature making videos .. !! 5:50 SO Satisfying !!! I love this tip !
Thanks Sharon. The grass box is great fun!!
Great to see it in action!
@@gailbarlow8958 Thanks Gail
Nice tips, flowers look great...Thanks, have to make a try!👍
Thanks Phil 😁
Learned something new again 😃
Excellent! 👍🏻
Great video! Thanks
Thanks for watching 👍🏻
I'm building a layout for my late fathers loco collection. Being a very keen gardener myself, plants are important to me on the layout. Buying in ready made plants is mega expensive but your techniques are impressive. I'm looking forward to giving it a go. Cheers.
Thanks Davie. It sounds like a lovely project and I wish you the best of luck with it.
Great ideas and great channel. You deserve lot more subscribers.
Thank you!
I use 2 methods, but the wax crayon is a masterstroke. Brilliant. Thankyou for that one. As usual your scenics look bloomin gorgeous. All the best
Thanks Martin. I can’t remember where I heard about the crayon method but couldn’t find it on RUclips so thought it was worth sharing.
Thanks for the wax crayon method. I would never have thought of that one. Enjoying this channel a lot - cheers
Thanks very much Davie.
love your work Andy. Thank you for sharing your techniques.
Thank you Robert 😊
Beautifully done.
Thank you 👍🏻
Good video keep up the good video you do stay safe lee
Thanks Lee
You are amazing, thank you so much for sharing 👍
Thank you Gary! 😊
Great techniques and tips. Thankyou.
Thanks Stephen 👍🏻
Very nice ideas! 🙂
Thank you
Sooooo, soooo beautiful!😍 What about an entire English garden? I can only dream of it.
Thanks Laura 😊
Nice work and excellent technique.
Thank you Anthony 😁
Incredible modelling thanks for the video
Thanks Dan 😁
Thanks very much Andy for putting up this tutorial so quickly, fascinating! I already use the wax crayon method but your method of making the flowers is excellent and I shall be making quite a few batches as well as the tufts. My pro grass box never seems to work as well as that though, must try a new battery. One method I have recently used for bullrush type tufts in a stream is to take a good bunch of field grass, cut off the straggly end, add a length of black thread with a slip knot at the length required, wrap round a few times and add superglue around the knot. Cut off the other end at the same length, spray superglue (I prefer mitre bond) activator and then cut off either side of the thread leaving 2 tufts glued together at the base ready for planting with scenic glue. One again, thanks Andy. Cheers Steve
Thanks Steve. That’s a great tip for tufts and something I need to try 👍🏻
This methods are great and effective ! Thanks to share these nice tips .
Thank you 😊
Thanks, Andy - this is a great tutorial! I also like the tip from TimberSurf about using plastic vs crayons, but I'll be raiding my granddaughter's Crayola stash right away ;-D Just subscribed and grabbed another cup of coffee ... settling in to watch more of your vids this morning. Cheers from North Carolina, USA
Thank you. Yes, Timbersurf’s tip on using plastic is a good one. I appreciate your support- enjoy your coffee 😁☕️
wow.. everything looks so realistic, from colors, proportions, the congruence of the environment with the type of vegetation. Thanks for the tips! I hope I can apply some
Thank you 👍🏻
Really impressive, thanks for sharing
Thank you
didnt even think of using crayons, that would be definitely easier and likely cheaper than first trying to find some foam online and ordering it, every store sells some cheap crayons.
now the final problem with my fantasy knights has been solved.
👍🏻
Awesome!
Thank you 😁
Very nice Andy and a good refresher for me. Bought the WWS Micro, Mini and Box nearly 4 years ago and still not really used to fullest potential. This has inspired me to have another look at them and make a few. Thanks for sharing…Chris
Thanks Chris. Have fun with the WWS box 👍🏻
Great video Andy, really enjoyed the techniques that you use! Cheers Gary
Cheers Gary
Hi Andy. I've just found your channel and I've subscribed instantly. An excellent video featuring truly beautiful work. Nothing makes a diorama look more interesting and more realistic than realistic vegetation and yours is amongst the best I've seen. I have a question. Have you tried sticking the crayon-dust to the stems of your flowers using tiny blobs of cyanoacrylate glue and did it work? I ask because I have experimented with various methods for making 'indestructible' plants, flowers, bushes and trees for my 'ever-lasting', multi-pose, reusable, diorama', essentially so that the whole diorama can be vacuum-cleaned and jet-washed to get rid of the dust without causing any damage. I've actually just cleaned 6 years of accumulated dust from my WIP diorama using said machines and my Seafoam hedgerow, whilst reinforced with PVA, is looking a bit worse for wear. LOL. So my hedgerow will have to be repaired and improved. I will DEFINITELY be using your crayon method for the undergrowth if the CA glue works. I love your foxgloves! OH, and a tip for you. When you make the double-ended flowers and cut them in half, why not AT FIRST, stick loads of bunches of stems along a narrow strip of sticky-tape, so the stems stick out both sides. Run PVA along the edges of the tape to fix all of the bunches at their 'snip off points', apply the flowers to both ends, then snip all the bunches off in one go? It would speed up the process and be far easier and faster process, especially for those like me who are 'cack-handed' with nerve-damage. Now I must have a look through your back-catalogue of vids. I may be some time. LOL Cheers. B.
Thank you very much, I have just subbed to your channel. I haven't tried the glue method but it's worth a try to toughen them up! Your point about the stems and using sticky tape is a great idea and I'll have to try it the next time I make flowers - anything to speed up the process!! Everything I do seems to take forever and I usually wish I'd done it differently! All the best :)
Hi Andy, nice to 'meet' you. Thanks for subbing. Much appreciated. You sound a lot like me then. I have an idea, try it and then fiddle with the method to improve it, but then end up fiddling even more. The problem is that one can improve every method, again and again until you spend several years making just one hyper-realistic 1/35th scale oak tree. LOL One has to strike a balance. But, I am forever trying to find ways to speed things up, make things easier whilst retaining an acceptable level of realism. That is the most important thing in my book. Originally, that was because I hated wasting time and energy, but more recently I developed an illness with progressive nerve damage and find it harder and harder to do the fiddly stuff, so my 'hacks' came in handy and hence my channel name. My videos are pretty awful though LOL.
@@BADDERSBETTERDIORAMAHACKS121 I think we are all very self critical in this game but I suppose it makes us slightly better each time we do something!
do you keep the wax in the fridge or do they return to solid wax in the jar
I have all of my modelling stuff in the garage so it's relatively cool. I just opened a jar of wax I made over a year ago and after a quick stir, it was absolutely fine.
I have a Noch Grassmaster Mk 1.. about 15 years old.. looking to replace with a WWS Grand static grass applicator..now my question is.. do I need the tuft maker as well? I will be using a lot of tufts... your thoughts please
Hi Roy. My personal experience, although limited, is that the grass box creates better tufts than an applicator. However, it might just be my technique which is lacking so if you only have the applicator you can still get great results. I have two applicators and the box and use them all for different things but was lucky enough to win two of them. If budget isn't an issue, it's nice to have all of them!
@@DartsideScenics I'm lucky in that my budget is fairly generous.. I have just ordered the Tuft box and will order the WWS Grand next month perhaps. I get my fibre's and glue from a professional flocking company (Thomas and Vines) and it is much cheaper than elsewhere.. although they only do 2mm maximum so will need to multi layer the tufts etc....as a train driver I see the near lineside every day and I think tufts will provide a much more realistic appearance than just flocking over scenery
thanks for replying .. great channel
@@trainmanroysmodelrailroadh7686 excellent! I look forward to seeing the results. It sounds like you have the perfect job to get inspiration for modelling. Best wishes.
Andy
P;s..... I don't like your xideos mate;;;; I LOVE THEM
😂