Jon,
Might try one of those throw away paint brushes with the wooden handles, cost about a buck and they make pretty good weed tufts. I just use a nail to poke a hole and add a little TightBond. Different size nails for different size bunches.
Thanks Rick. That’s what I’m using. Just need to practice the insertion technique until I’m happy with the result.
Forgot to mention, that I put a little dab of ACC on the end and let it set before inserting it into the base and white glue. Holds it together and makes it easier to insert.
i used one of this kind:
a seamstripper (ask your wife)
break away the round head, and you are good to go.
don’t predrill! the pressure of the foam is, what holds your weeds in place. i use no glue for this.
A straight pin is always my choice 
Thanks for the advice. I got a few tufts on the model, but need to wait for the sprayed on glue to dry on the ‘earth’ as it was a mushy mess while i was trying to insert grass.
Down to the wire now. I need to pack this up tomorrow. Final touches are on, just waiting for paint to dry to mount the platform and stairs. To my eye, the stove pipe/cap look too big, but it’s not changing…
I do like how the texture / color came out. I had to add some paint because I didn’t like my random application of the Iron paint…
Added some grasses, black paint at borders to model parts and a final coat of gray to the sides…
Almost done!
Beautiful work, Jon!
I’m sure it will look fantastic with all the pieces together!
If you have the time to scrape some gray / tan pastel dust and brush it on your terrain, without fixative and just raw, that might add some quick additional variegation. But you’re fine without that!
Good idea, but weathering powders / chalk is one of the few things I don’t have in my arsenal. I do have some very fine gray stone dust I could sprinkle on.
your wife might have. or the next drugstore.
women’s warpaint!
specially look for eyeshadow (if you can stand the looks of the salesgirls)
that stuff comes in any kind of “dirtcolor” you could imagine.
All great ideas Korm, but I’m out of time. Spent the entire day getting ready to leave tomorrow morning at the crack of dawn. I still need to pack and load our clothes and a few odds & ends.
hmmm…
if you need instant-dirt, use instant coffee. take some of these coffee nuggets, squeeze.
if too dark, mix with some cinnamon powder.
Did final assembly today. I was going to leave the wood parts separate from the foam base, but getting things lined up correctly was tricky, so I decided I didn’t need that stress when placing it on the contest table. The stairs and landing are glued on, the shack is not.
Final photos before packing up…
These two photos will be placed with the model, printed in b&w…
Located left of the caboose above the two persons…
3 Likes
Congratulations Jon, beautiful work, and good luck in the contest!!
I hope you have room for the washing machine in the contest area … 
I was just checking behind the door for the hidden coal stove
Thanks. I didn’t win, but I’m not surprised as Wade Woodcock, a prolific HOn3 modeler, entered a really nice super detailed model of the Mt. Union coal cleaning plant. They only announce the winners of each category, so I don’t know if it placed, or not.
Was still a prize worthy effort Jon. Great job on an obscure piece of history
I just caught up with this. Very cool Jon. And the prize is having done it and having the results. Its a very nice addition to the little shack.