Halloween / Spooky Trees

Find a dead bush or dead limbs on a live bush. They will be small and twisted. Perfect for what you need.

Branches closer to the ground will be more bend out of shape

Scott Smith

Thanks for the suggestion Scott! Since I'm on the East Coast, I should have no problem finding branches given Isaias just passed through the other day. Taking a look now!

Thanks again,

Mike 

@Great Northern 17 posted:

Hi Everyone,

I hope all is well. I am working on a Halloween / Spooky layout, and was wondering if anyone would be able to provide suggestions on where I can locate some inexpensive "spooky" looking trees. I've included two images below of a tree kit I was able to find many years back (but have no idea who the manufacture was).  I'm not looking for anything super detailed, but rather something where I can just use the tree/branches to spray-paint dark brown/black and create a dead forest look. Any suggestions? Ideally, the trees would be in the 4" - 8" range. 

Appreciate everyone's feedback.

Best,

Mike 

In case you're wondering, that "spooky" tree kit you found many years ago looks to be Woodlands Scenics tree armatures.  Should still be available today.     

Thanks Paul! That's the one! Appreciate the insight.

Best,

Mike

Department 56 has tree armatures that run from $17/3 to $24/6 on Amazon. They range in size from 4" to 10" when opened up. I've fleshed them out with wood putty, carved more detail into the trunks, and painted them. They come in a three different varieties; spring, winter, and Halloween! In other words, brown, white,  and black. They look pretty plain to begin with but have potential with a little work. The ones shown here started as the winter version. 

As long as you don't find the smell of cinnamon, go to a local Hobby Lobby and purchase a cinnamon broom. Hundreds of thin scraggly trees at your disposal and super cheap and comparison. Here are some shots with some of the trees on modules. They can be different heights and combined together to make a spooky forrest!

@nlawson posted:

As long as you don't find the smell of cinnamon, go to a local Hobby Lobby and purchase a cinnamon broom. Hundreds of thin scraggly trees at your disposal and super cheap and comparison. Here are some shots with some of the trees on modules. They can be different heights and combined together to make a spooky forest!

That is a fantastic idea! The Halloween diorama looks great. 

With a bit of scenic glue, woodland scenic snow, and some NOCH ice these also can be made into winter trees. 

Bryce

If you have a Michael's neaeby the Mrs. told me that they have all their Lemax Halloween stuff out.

@Doug W. posted:

If you have a Michael's neaeby the Mrs. told me that they have all their Lemax Halloween stuff out.

Heading there tomorrow.  Michael's having a 30% of sale for the lemax Halloween stuff.  fyi, I have waited to closer to Halloween in the past only to find out they were sold out of everything I wanted.

JHZ563

You may want to check stock on-line at Michael's before going.  Their website is real accurate.  You'll be able to see what they still have.  This is the 2nd week of 30% off, I was surprised at what they were out of and thru the website I could find which store had what I wanted.

" I should have no problem finding branches given Isaias just passed through the other day."

A new twist on an old line:  Mother nature makes hurricanes;  Model railroaders make spooky trees.

@jhz563 posted:

Heading there tomorrow.  Michael's having a 30% of sale for the lemax Halloween stuff.  fyi, I have waited to closer to Halloween in the past only to find out they were sold out of everything I wanted.

JHZ563

Last year it didn't seem like they ordered much inventory because they sold out of the good stuff very early. Happy haunting.

My goal was not spooky trees, but rather to have plenty of economical trees on my layout, and the more, the better. 

The photo below shows some store bought trees from my LHS in the foreground and middle, and some large homemade trees in the background. The homemade ones consist of branches found on my almost daily long walks in a State park near where I live (I look for symmetrical ones), green mesh and flocking affixed to the mesh with spray glue. The green mesh, flocking and spray glue are either Woodlands Senics ar Scenic Express products:

Later, I will try to post some close-up shots of my homemade trees.

I enjoyed making the homemade trees.

For spooky ones for a Halloween themed layout (I think that's a great idea) can be made at no cost simply by looking for real tree branches, perhaps shaping or clipping them, drilling holes the correct size in your train board, and inserting the branches into the holes. No need for any mesh or flocking to make spooky trees.

Arnold

One of the Michael's exclusives me likes.

 Horrible Harry's Toys

@Doug W. posted:

One of the Michael's exclusives me likes.

 Horrible Harry's Toys

I passed on this one, although it looks very cool.  I did pick up two others though!  I also got this awesome house from Big lots

Fortunately the switch can be set to lights only,  because it also has sounds,  which are super loud,  and play for two hours at a time!!!

This always got some hoots-n-hollers when the fingers would  move as the train went by.