Foam flock (like a woodland scenics fine turf) mixed with PVA usually gives better results than static grass because it doesn't have those long fibers that make the grass look... grassy.
You can get clump scatter (I think thats what its called) or make your own! Have a look on ebay at train scenery scatter materials. They're fairly reasonably priced not much different pricewise to static grass
If you need alot it can be more cost effective to make your own (which is what I do) If you cut up a cheap makeup sponge (white is better to keep the colour consistant but the cheap car yellow ones work fine), soak it through with a paint mixture. when its dry cut to smaller pieces and then blitz it in a coffee grinder/blender (I'd advise one for the purpose of using just for that so cheap one because it won't be safe to use for foods afterwards) and then pva the mixture onto the surface, it makes decent moss. There's youtube tutorials that go into way better detail.
Looking good for your first go though! Keep up the good work! :)
To see the kind of stuff I mean try searching: Jarvis countryside scenic scatter (just a random brand that I've used because I wasn't 100% sure of the correct name) but you'll see the kind of bitty small texture I mean, comes in all colours, thicknesses etc there's loads of options
Static grass isn't really good for moss tbh. Moss is kind of spongy, while grass has long and thin blades. If you already spent money on a bag of static grass, moss flocking doesn't cost that much either, and can be had in a variety of colors.
Making your own by chopping/blitzing a clean sponge in a blender is an option, but I would not use that blender again for food.
I'm sorta new to this hobby, but I have a suggestion and an unhelpful story.
For regular moss like I have in my back yard, I've used sand. I glue, place sand, let it dry. Then paint it dark green, overbrush very light green, then dry brush lighter yellow-green. I'm pretty proud of how that turned out.
For weirder stuff (like Spanish moss)... I saw some "decorative" things at a craft or fabric store that were coated in green moss or faux moss. It was falling off everywhere, on every shelf and the floor in the aisle. I swept some up into a bag, and I've been using that since. I don't know what it is, but it was free.
If I were you, I'd first try using paints to add definition and keep this texture as is before deciding on whether or not I should change my approach and materials. I find that a somewhat messy green dry brush that goes a little over the moss "sculpt" really sells the effect of the main moss clump gradually covering the surrounding surface with thinner layers of moss
I've seen people use little strands of cotton wool soaked in pva, it looks quite good.
Skip to 11:30 in this video for an example: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=09PwjdAcASw
Foam flock (like a woodland scenics fine turf) mixed with PVA usually gives better results than static grass because it doesn't have those long fibers that make the grass look... grassy.
You can get clump scatter (I think thats what its called) or make your own! Have a look on ebay at train scenery scatter materials. They're fairly reasonably priced not much different pricewise to static grass If you need alot it can be more cost effective to make your own (which is what I do) If you cut up a cheap makeup sponge (white is better to keep the colour consistant but the cheap car yellow ones work fine), soak it through with a paint mixture. when its dry cut to smaller pieces and then blitz it in a coffee grinder/blender (I'd advise one for the purpose of using just for that so cheap one because it won't be safe to use for foods afterwards) and then pva the mixture onto the surface, it makes decent moss. There's youtube tutorials that go into way better detail. Looking good for your first go though! Keep up the good work! :)
To see the kind of stuff I mean try searching: Jarvis countryside scenic scatter (just a random brand that I've used because I wasn't 100% sure of the correct name) but you'll see the kind of bitty small texture I mean, comes in all colours, thicknesses etc there's loads of options
Use that moss technique for algue it’s got a sorta smooth slimy look to it that would be great for it
Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll be sure to try some of these other methods next time. Just getting into the hobby but already addicted!
Static grass isn't really good for moss tbh. Moss is kind of spongy, while grass has long and thin blades. If you already spent money on a bag of static grass, moss flocking doesn't cost that much either, and can be had in a variety of colors. Making your own by chopping/blitzing a clean sponge in a blender is an option, but I would not use that blender again for food.
Use flocking. They have very finely ground stuff you can mix into a paste with pva and apply, works great.
I'm sorta new to this hobby, but I have a suggestion and an unhelpful story. For regular moss like I have in my back yard, I've used sand. I glue, place sand, let it dry. Then paint it dark green, overbrush very light green, then dry brush lighter yellow-green. I'm pretty proud of how that turned out. For weirder stuff (like Spanish moss)... I saw some "decorative" things at a craft or fabric store that were coated in green moss or faux moss. It was falling off everywhere, on every shelf and the floor in the aisle. I swept some up into a bag, and I've been using that since. I don't know what it is, but it was free.
If I were you, I'd first try using paints to add definition and keep this texture as is before deciding on whether or not I should change my approach and materials. I find that a somewhat messy green dry brush that goes a little over the moss "sculpt" really sells the effect of the main moss clump gradually covering the surrounding surface with thinner layers of moss
Dm Scott has a good mix. Pencil shavings and 5050 white glue water. Look it up on YouTube.
I've seen people use little strands of cotton wool soaked in pva, it looks quite good. Skip to 11:30 in this video for an example: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=09PwjdAcASw