TREES ON MOUNTAIN...HELP!

Hi Dave,

I think your puff ball trees look pretty decent.  You are off to a good start.  Maybe try and blend them in (color-wise) a little better where they meet up to the backdrop.

The Woodlands Scenics canopy trees have got to go.  With their tall, bare tree trunks, they do not blend in well with the rest of your trees.  You might save them for use with town scenes, or farm scenes, or other areas with sparsely populated trees, where they will look much better.

Replace the canopy trees with more puff ball trees.  In front of them, start using lots of tall shrubs and other low ground clutter, tapering off to low shrubs and coarse ground foams as you approach the cliffs.

Step back, take a GOOD look at your backdrop, and then try and duplicate the same look on top of your mountain.  Once you achieve that, you will have it nailed. 

Paul thanks for your advise. I will experiment with ideas you have given me. I definitely agree with the color blending to the backdrop.

Dave,    I think the last photo bottom row, right hand side looks pretty good.   I have made quite a few puff ball trees,  I rarely cover them with just one type of scenery material....  I purchased a bunch of "leaves" from Woodland Scenic back when I bought some of their Super Trees and started using the leaves along with fine ground foam, and also the green blended turf...  

I wouldn't discard any puff ball trees that you already made... When I have some that I don't care for, I spray them with some inexpensive matte spray to seal them then I spray em with more 77 adhesive by 3M and add more texture, the leaf material is small and light and will adhere to whatever is beneath. 

You might also consider mixing in some of the Woodland Scenics, or Scenic Express Super Trees.  (sorry it's late I can't remember which one is marketing the super trees)....   I have found that mixing them in with the puff ball trees yields a better result.     I have also started applying fine ground turf blends and leaves to ordinary lichen that I bought that I figured I would never use, it creates some pretty cool lower vegetation and bushes (see first photo below)

Last piece of advice...  When I am working on these hillsides, I get really critical and concerned about how it's looking... Part of the problem is I am working right on top of it focusing on trying to make it perfect from too narrow and too close a perspective...  On the last section, I did down by the gas station, I would roughly put things in place them come back the next day and move them around until I finally realized it's a scenic background and if I step back 5 or 6 feet away and take in the big picture it's really totally fine.    I think if you get a $28.00 Super Tree kit you might be pretty pleased with the result particularly for the foreground trees leading into the forest. 

Scenic Express has the super trees. One package plus some tree leaf flocking should provide good cover the the mountain you are showing.

Dave,

I've the same problem in a corner and I think you've done a great job. At this point I think your backdrop arrangement is more important than messing with the trees......To blend it all in. It'll look great.

Chris, thanks for your advice with the super trees being in the foreground and for the pics. I actually thought about using those as well. Your layout was actually one of the ones I was speaking of in my opening statement. I really like how you have blended the colors. Though they are different shades you have made smooth transitions from one color to the next. Which I believe is more realistic.

Steve, this reinforces that what I was thinking may work.

Ron, thanks for your advise. I think I will experiment with removing some of the trees in the foreground and adding some super trees. I agree, that I need to put some effort into blending everything with the backdrop. I think the section of the backdrop, closest to mountain, shows the trees having a "bluish" tint to them. There is also a slight reflection of the sun off of them. This should be interesting.

Dave

If you do a search on Ed Rappe (Keystoned Ed) you'll see a railroad with a lot of trees!

Hey Dave.

Here are a few pics of my corner "mountain" area that is covered with trees.

I have tried many different options, some of them are the ones you are using.

In the end. the only way I could get a convincing mountain of trees was to just use trees....I know that sounds a little sarcastic. I kept adding trees until I happy with the scene. I had a bunch of them from previous layouts that I used too.

All of mine were purchased thru Scenic Express (a forum sponsor). You do not have to purchase the most expensive ones. I purchased a mixture of different types and I think it looks pretty good.

What makes a difference is the height of the trees. In the foreground, I used scale height trees. On the mountain, I used slightly shorter ones moving towards the back. The foreground evergreens I made myself years ago.

You do not have to have every square inch of mountain covered. Plant a bunch of them in groups and the "mind's eye" will see a full mountain.

Hope that helps, start adding product and keep at it until you are happy with your results. It does not have to be all at the same time.

Donald

Rob,

I have seen pics and vids of Ed's layout before and just revisited some of those. I also contacted him for suggestions. 

Thanks for reminding me of his inspirational work.

Dave

Don,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to this thread and post pics. I am very visual and sometimes seeing and example is easier for me than explanation. Your suggestion is not sarcastic at all, but makes the most sense. I will experiment with groups of trees and see if I get a satisfying result. I also have learned in my "quest" for greatness that the groups should be odd numbers of trees.

Dave

Hey Dave. 

Yep, you are correct....always group stuff in "odd" numbers.

I go to great lengths to follow that rule...1, 3, 5, 7, etc. Once you get above 9, then I think it is not very prudent to continue. I do that for bushes, trees, people, everything. 

Please post some more pics as you make progress on your corner mountain!!

Donald

Will do Donald!

luvindemtrains posted:

Rob,

I have seen pics and vids of Ed's layout before and just revisited some of those. I also contacted him for suggestions. 

Thanks for reminding me of his inspirational work.

Dave

Quite welcome Dave!  Ed and Christopher N&W are my role models for Appalachian mountain  scenery.