Well done sir!

Now I need to figure out the N scale version, as this . . . plant . . . armed invader . . . menace to society . . . can be found in Louisians as well.  DO you know if Noch (or anyone else) makes smaller sized leaves?

the blob!

Haha, those photos made me think of a blob type creature from one of those black and white sci-fi horror movies =)

Obviously this was just a quick test, I think with some blending around the edges like you mentioned this would look very effective as the temporary results look good.  Probably the most time consuming part is going to be pulling apart all those little zig-zag dense bits that the WS poly fiber tends to have in it.

N scale leaf

Phillip,

Thank you for your kind words.  Being an HO guy I haven't researched if they make the leaf product in smaller (N scale) sizes.  Perhaps you could check out Scenic Express's website and see if there is info on this.

Rick

Rick It looks great to me. 

Rick

It looks great to me.  Thank you for the experiment.

You're welcome, Jim

Jim,

It was my pleasure - I'm glad that you found it helpful.

Rick

This will be useful!

Was kudzu around in the late 1940's?  I have to find out, because this is now a necessity on any Southern layout.  A great idea and very well executed!

"Kudzu was introduced from Japan into the  United States at the Japanese pavilion in the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. ^[24] It is now common along roadsides and other undisturbed areas throughout most of the southeastern United States. Kudzu has been spreading at the rate of 150,000 acres (61,000 ha) annually."    --- from Wikipedia

Yes, it was around in the late 1940's!

Nice work!

Yes, but was it as prevalent and pervasive as it is today?

Rick, that last photo in particular looks incredible!  I really, really, really like the way your kudzu looks.  Thanks a million.

Article, please!

Rick,

I would love to see you refine your technique, try things like glooss or paint, blending, etc. and write an article on modeling kudzu.  As ubiquitous as the stuff is across the southeast, I have never seen an article on the subject, nor have I ever seen anybody come even close to what you achieved in .. what, a day?

Joe, what do you think?  Article worthy?

Looks like Kudzu to me!

Rick,

I think it looks good! Something similar done for Kudzu growing up guy-wires and the like would cap it off. Thanks for you experiment!

Ken Glover, Chief Engineer, Kansas Pacific Railway

Zig-Zags are a Drag!

Marc,

You are correct - I HATE those zig-zags in the WS poly fiber.  If I had to use a bunch of green I would buy white & dye it!

Rick

My pleasure, Ken

Ken,

I'm glad that you found the experiment helpful.  As far as an article I know the guys at MRH like "fresh" stuff, so the fact that I've more or less covered the process in this thread probably takes it out of the realm of possibilities.  Maybe would have made a nice "Tip" for the magazine?

Rick

I'm still all in favor

That's why I suggested the further studies.  I was sort of thinking of this thread as a teaser, with more information in an article.  That, and I mnow a lot of people might miss this thread, but they'd love the info in the magazine.

Kudzu color

Rick - I think you nailed the density and overall blob-shape of the vining growth habit.  I'd say hit it with a light spray of a semi-gloss darker green to nail the color and add to the texture.  But then again I'm more partial to the brighter, more intense 'European'-made greens like Silflor (even though these are Noch flakes) so that may have something to do with it.  That, and I've been looking at pictures of the South and Appalachia for backdrop inspiration.  And I grew up watching kudzu take over in central Florida and I just remember it being a darker green for most of the year.  I suppose the spring growth was a little lighter.

Super job.

Galen

THIS IS GREAT!!!!. Next fade.

Now we don't have to worry about details..... or entire models!. We just need to make a kudzu cover and say that it took over. Would this hold water at an NMRA national?.

Prototype photo

Ken,

I think your experiment looks pretty convincing. Maybe if the polyfiber was colored a little darker....

I also think a light coat of gloss would help as the sheen to the leaves.

I shot this pic over the weekend traveling along old L&N route through Jonesville VA.

Note it's already climbing over the derailed hoppers!

Brian

N Scale Kudzu Leaves

Noch makes a leaf flake flock available from Scenic Express - I just sprinkled some on my scale rule and the leaves are about 4 to 6 N scale inches across, which should be just about right for N scale kudzu.  Their "medium green" looks about the color of the kudzu we have here in Virginia.