Advice about flocking?

[Cato]

I'm considering using flocking material for a 1/12 project. What are your favorite brands and techniques?? Is there special material for this larger scale or is it mostly for 1/24, 1/25??

[Junkman]

Flocking might be not coarse enough for 1 inch scale. Having written that, I even used it for 1:8 scale and there it has a velours look. As far as I know, flocking only comes in one 'coarseness', at least in this part of the world:

For carpeting in large scale, I recommend felt. It comes in all colours and various textures:

And the best part: It doesn't cost anything! All you see in the pic is swatches and rests I collected from a local fabric store absolutely free of charge.

I don't know what they are called, but you can use these for beading:

But if you want to flock, I find the easiest way is to paint the area I want to flock with the same colour paint the flocking is going to be and then just flock it through a tea sieve while the paint is still wet. Be generous with the flocking material, whatever is excessive will automatically fall off once the paint is dry.

Flocking material can be mixed to any colour you like:

Edited October 14, 2011 by Junkman

[Mooneyzs]

I personally have used Detail master and Kens Kustom Fur for all of my flocking jobs. the best way I have found to do it after trying different techniques is to paint a color close to the color of flocking for a base. And then I use model master bottle clear bush it on in sections of the floor or panels. Then I poor my flocking into a wire strainer that is used for cooking. Hold the strainer over the area I am going to flock and then I tap the strainer which makes the flocking have a snow effect falling onto the part. I load the part up with flocking and then when I know I have covered the floor enough I take my finger and push down on it so I know its on there good. I tend to let it sit for a few and then I tap the excess off by tipping the part up or over and tapping on the back side. Then its ready for the next area and good to go.

Hope that helps

[crazyjim]

I paint the area to be flocked with bottle paints as close to the flocking color I can get. After the paint dries, I slightly dilute some Elmer's glue and brush onto the area to be covered. I have a cooking sifter that I dump the flocking into. I run the sifter over the area using an index finger to force the flocking through the sifter. When done I use a fingertip to gently mash the flocking into the glue. I use a clean sheet of paper under the particular part I'm flocking. When the glue is dry, I tap all the excess flocking onto the paper and then fold the paper to use as a funnel to put the flocking back in the tube. I use only Ken's Fuzzy Fur for flocking, although I did find this place on the internet - http://www.craftfloc...locking_Fibers.

I was just thinking - how do you think a pepper grinder would work on distributing the flocking?

Edited October 14, 2011 by crazyjim

[Eshaver]

Both Dave Z and Junkman bring some great points . The Flocking I have seen to date was/ is too coarse for 1-25th . I'm hesitant to recommend it for the larger scale as it doesn't lend well to a scale project at all , to me at least . I have used Flocking to do some 1-1 work with success though . Ed Shaver

[Mike Kucaba]

Check out DonJer products for different kinds of flocking. You can buy in bulk and I believe they sell flocking in different materials (rayon,nylon,etc) For big scale builders I would think the bulk buy would be a real bonus. Douglas & Sturgess is another seller of flocking in bulk. A fine screen to sift the flocking thru helps a heap,but it seems finding the right adhesive is the key.

[Cato]

Guys-thanks to all. This is miles better info than I ever hoped for. Very well appreciated.

[Deathgoblin]

Did my first "carpeted" interior on a Galaxie '48 Chevy Fleetline. Hobby Lobby has some pretty neat colors of embossing powder. I painted the base color then after it dried I used brushed-on Testor's Acryl dullcoat as an adhesive and sprinkled on the powder. It's worth it to pick up one of the little trays that has a pour spout at one end so you can recycle the overflowed powder.

[mysterj1]

Cato,

What do you do with the fabric swatches to create your own flocking? I'm looking at doing my first flocking experiment, and I'm open to a little extra elbow grease.