Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Malcolm, I would start with poly fiber first. I personally like the black version from micro mark but you can get green from WS. ( the black is way cheaper for much more). anyway, tear off a small section, tease it apart very, very, thin and then apply to the branches. you can get it as thick or thin as you want. spray some cheap hair spray and then apply the foliage and spray with cheap hair spray again or the commercial spray adhesives. I think it will improve your trees considerably. regardless, you are on the right track. 

 

jerrman

The technique i like is similar to what you are already doing. Just add more branch structures together. Then use florist tape to wrap around and make a tree trunk. Get some super trees and glue some tiny clusters to the branches. add the foliage of your choice, paint the trunk, spray with 3m adhesive and your done.
Instead of using sedum use super trees and do same thing.  Glue super trees turn upside down and spray paint branches a darker color for season.  I then use spray adhesive ( hairspray doesn't hold as we'll long term) And then flock. Use this method for 25-40 scale feet trees.  The polyfiber works better for me with smaller trees where branch structure isn't as important.

The armature for these trees is sagebrush

Last edited by wsdimenna

Take heart.  You're doing just fine.

 

The next time you're out-and-about on a drive hither and yon, look at what The Creator, weather (wind, ice storms, etc.), utility crews (along power line routes), amateur gardeners, even professional tree surgeons!!, etc. have done to/with trees.  The world is not made up of 'perfect' trees.  Actually, that sort of evirons is fairly well confined to arboretums,  garden sanctuaries for trees, and tree farms/nurseries.

 

Around here (Michigan) our Ash trees have been decimated by borers.  Ergo, there's a lot of dead trees (armatures, to the hobbyist) interspersed among the living species.  Just adding a few 'dead' trees amongst the foliage adds a touch of realism.

 

But there are plenty of weirdo trees out there.  Down the road from here a home owner had a tree surgeon come visit several years ago and essentially top-out a HUGE weeping willow tree...took it right down to within 12 feet of the ground!  So, there was this huge trunky thing about 4 feet in diameter sitting there.  The following spring shoots started popping out along the cambium (bark/deadwood area) at the top of this monolith.  Looked for all the world like it needed a haircut...badly!!  Now, a few years later, the shoots have sorted themselves out, the survivors gaining strength, diameter, length.  It's easily recognizable as a 'weeping willow', again, but it still resembles a piece of 'children's art' as a tree. 

 

Yet, it's a real tree.  I could easily make a model of it for the layout.  And visitors would smile and laugh at its appearance as much as they do when passing this survivor down the street.   Having a photo handy to refute the critics might have its fun moments!

 

The advice offered by others earlier is good.  Just keep making more trees, trying different things.  It's all good! 

 

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×