Grass mats

[Wodehouse]

Hi all.  Digging through some old posts I came across Brad Cancian's thread about Polak grass mats here:

http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=792.0

It appears Polak is definitely out of business.  The same store Brad posted in the initial link has Martin Welberg's mats, and I was wondering if anyone here has seen or ordered them, and if so, what your impressions of them are.  They look almost as nice to my eye if you go to Martin's personal website, but not having seen either up close I haven't the foggiest idea of their comparative quality or scale.

https://martinwelberg.wordpress.com/2015/05/08/renewed-wild-verge-line/

Has anyone here tried these? 

[Wodehouse]

Right on, thanks.  I'm definitely in the hunt for some sort of appropriate meadow rug.  I really should learn how to make the things myself, but my last attempt was a disaster, with little bits of static grass showing up everywhere for weeks - in my food, in my coffee, on my latest model just coincidentally right around airbrush time, etc.

[drdave]

I found some at

http://www.model-scene.com/x_foliage_p1.html

I bought some at Telford, including one that looks like a buttercup field. I cut some MDF to fit the mat and stuck it down with PVA. They do a mat as railway embankment too. It's basically 2 pieces that separate then you can lay a track, road or path down the centre using diorama material. I paid £13-16 for the premium ones.

[drdave]

This is the summer meadow, two bits joined to make a square foot. Like wallpaper, you cut an irregular curved join line to hide it!









And here's one of mine at Telford

[Wodehouse]

That looks great Dave.  I'll definitely add it to my interest list.

[drdave]

This is the buttercup meadow.





The mats are just the right size for a 1/32 fighter but a bit small for a 2 seater.

[Wodehouse]

Thanks again, Dave, for the help.  And what wonderful models you've built.  Really first rate.

So I ordered one of the Welberg mats.  I've never ordered anything like this, so I have nothing to compare it to empirically to know if it's supposed to be top notch, horrible, or just average, etc.  At any rate, it looks pretty nice to me.

Here's a pic of the one I ordered.



And here's another one with a subject in its natural habitat - a lesser known and never tried design by Sopwith.  Don't even bother googling it.  Far too obscure.

[drdave]

From the unbroadcast 1986 episode "planet grass" ?

[Wodehouse]

Hehe.  Exactly, but 1968 not 86!  I would have put a WWI subject on it, but the Enterprise was easier to dust off for the photo.  

[Rob Hart]

This is the Martin Welberg 'Rough Meadow".

[drdave]

Polak is back in business by the way.

[WD]

Polak is back in business by the way.

Really?  Can one order direct, or do they have a distributor?

WD

[drdave]

https://polakscenics.uk/product/wild-meadow-4706-variation-f/

[WD]

https://polakscenics.uk/product/wild-meadow-4706-variation-f/

Thanks Dr. Dave!

WD

[MichaelStieber]

I know the product was mentioned before, I also use the Martin Welberg mats and I am very satisfied with them.
The mat on the picture is without any additional coloration from me, just as it comes out of the box.
Later I sprayed just a coat of satin varnish over it, just to avoid the reflection of the synthetic grass.
For the base on the picture I used two packs, it is a big base for a Hannover Cl.II (40/30cm).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/193171143@N05/51244230695/in/album-72157719409141386/