Grass mats with flexible backing can be shaped over scenic contours, reducing the need to sculpt the correct profile with plaster or foam. Once trees, bushes and layers of grass scatter are applied, the results can be impressive.
PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER MARRIOTT
A number of Model Rail readers have asked me recently whether traditional grass mats are still worth using these days, with the huge array of alternative scenic materials now available.
My answer is a definite yes, as although many mats can look a little one-dimensional on their own, they can form the basis for realistic scenery when used as a base layer.