This weekend I embarked on a hill making adventure.
I started with a set of ‘Warhammer Hills’ which cost me £16, utilising a £10 off promotion. The hills are identical moulds, so to create a difference, I stuck on a bunch of natural slate rocks, ballast and sand to give some visual interest and variety. These were then airbrushed brown, all stone and rock faces painted grey with some quick drybrushing. I added some pigments, fancy in theory but practically pointless, as everything just got covered with varnish and grass. I wouldn’t bother if doing again.
Now for the fun part! I purchased 3 different grasses 1-2mm in length which to my research is recommended for wargaming terrain. I purchased static grass glue which is an inflated name for what is ostensively PVA (they got me). Layering spray adhesive is used between grasses and lengths. I borrowed a grass applicator from the SWS club (aka The Flocker). Filling the hopper 2/3rd full and plugging in the applicator I began sprinkling over the grass glue (PVA!).
With my first pass I could see much better electrostatic (standing up) of the grass using the mains adaptor over the 9v battery. The probe inside the hopper provides a negative charge to the flock and the crocodile clip the positive. After getting rather carried away I did manage to complete the circuit… across the back of my hand! A shocking reminder of how electrifying this hobby can be!
I then used layering spray adhesive, and proceeded through my different grasses. Mrs F was very happy that her kitchen now had a thin layer of static grass across it. As the children ran through without socks, they found themselves with green hairy feet. I was laughing - no one else was. Finally I was finished - pictures of the completed hills.
Total project time ~4hrs, 10/10 would recommend.
