What is the best way of recreating haystacks, preferably in 1:72 scale? I have tried dry grass but that smells awful, and I have no other ideas. Any help would be most appreciated, thanks.

Anyone? Someone must know how to make haystacks.

you could cut the basic shape from some styrofoam, then grab some cheap paint brushes.. Cut the bristles off and paint to the desired colour.. Then glue to the styrofoam core..

Mojo

Mojo is on the right track. IF you could get Vladimir Demchenko, who did the excellent vignette which included a haystack to chime in, I'd be all ears. His work was excellent. Seems to me that in 1/72 it would even be easier since it is smaller. Just my .02 worth. "Q"

yeah I would try to get in touch with Vladimir, he knows how to do haystacks well.
-NERVRECK-

Davester444

have a look at this link.. It should give you some help..
haystack

Here's what I did.

I took three different colors of thread that were close to hay color. I looped the thread around my fingers and then made two cuts of the skein to get the right length.

Then I bunched the thread into a haystack and dribbled matte medium, soap and white glue on the pile to give it body.

Then I weathered it with washes.

The three colors broke up the uniformity. The wash gave it depth. Came out fine. Come to the Nationals (next year). I might even have the dang dio done.

Sealhead

Thanks for the help, everyone. I'll try Sealheads method.

Here is my try



I made it with broom bristles mix with white glue slighty diluted in water with a few drops of brownish color.
This is 1:35 scale so I think for a 1:72 scale dio you would have to choose smaller bristles like those to clean up fireplaces (? the place where you have the logs burning in your chimney !) or anything else of course. I would prefer some natural material rather than synthetic one as it's generally looks more realistic.

My 2eurocents
olivier