Carpet for scale models?

[Sulla]

Getting close to beginning my scratch build bridge model project.

http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=18158&highlight=sulla

I have my hands on most of the material I will need. But does anyone know where I could get thin 'carpet' for the floor of the bridge?

I was thinking of just using fabric, but if there is a modeler's equivalent (like for doll hoses?) that'd be the way I want to go.
Whaddya' think?

I'll be posting updated designs on that thread here soon. I have gone with a much simpler design than the one I had originally planned.

 

[jonny5]

If you can find a color match try ground foam like woodlanscenics that is used to represent turf on model railroads. Another posibility is Felt flocking! (aka ground Muppet flesh)
It shoudn't be hard to have the flocking dyed to the correct color.

I either case the surface to be covered is misted with a thin coat of watered down white glue and the foam is dusted over the wet glue and left to dry. It would require a bit of masking to dust the finished model, or you could try to 'pre-flock' your base material (styrene?) and cut the parts with the 'carpet' already installed.

 

[motivealloy]

Try different grit sandpapers. A lot of guys that do car models use sandpaper for the carpet. Depending on the scale you are going for generally 120 - 300 grit looks right in 1/24 scale car models. You can also paint it to whatever color you want. Flocking might look like 70's shag carpet if you bring it up to scale. :lol

 

[Sulla]

Thanks for the ideas.

 

[motivealloy]

Here are links to a really neat carpeting tutorials...

Flocking
http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial/75

Flocking 2
http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial/39

I couldn't find the sand paper tutorial on this website, but it is pretty convincing for large areas and way less mess.

 

[Sulla]

Wow! Flocking looks great! I wonder how hard it would be to do a whole bridge carpet? Maybe I should build the Defiant's command chair with base and side consols as a test?

I wonder if you can dye or color flocking...

Thanks again for those great links!

Here are links to a really neat carpeting tutorials...

Flocking
http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial/75

Flocking 2
http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial/39

I couldn't find the sand paper tutorial on this website, but it is pretty convincing for large areas and way less mess.

 

[FXGuy]

Flocking is an excellent way to mimic carpetting- I've used very light ribbon [for presents and crafts] as seat upholstry in cars/vans and even ultra-light velour fabrics [almost a shear velour of sorts] that had some success...

Flcoking, especially for larger areas that a seam would be far too obvious is an excellent way to go! :cool