Modeling Trees

[Jumijo]

Boys, I'm in need of a lot of trees (all kinds) for my layout. I want them to look as realistic as possible. No tiny Life-Like bright yellow and red trees please. The season I'm modeling is autumn - New England style. Charles Ro has a set of 25 Woodland Scenic trees in kit form for $25.00. Not bad, but what natural materials, dried plants make the best trees? I'm also looking for some to have no leaves. I saw something called Caspia at Michael's. Has anyone used that?

All your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Jim

[Anonymous]

Hello Jim!

The trees on my layout are the ends of this years Lilac bushes. The are a pretty good representation of a oak or a***ree during fall. I trying to find a way to put some foliage on them, beacause they look a little naked to me. They are almost perfect O scale, about 80 feet high.

Here is a picture of my layout with the trees added.
(click to enlarge)

[Jumijo]

Lilacs! I have a lilac bush in my back yard! Are those the flowers or just branches off the bush? I might have to wait until next spring to harvest flowers from mine?

Thanks, Jerry. They look great on your layout. I'm all fired up to get home and start tearing into my lilac!

I've seen that photo many times and always assumed it was a store bought tunnel on the left. Closer inspection shows it to be a home made piece. I want to make one just like it. Great Job!

Dip the lilacs in matte medium and roll them in ground foam to add foliage.

Anyone else have a good tree tip to share? I'll pass one along for making pine trees. Follow the link to learn how to make very realistic pines and cedars for pennies per tree:

http://www.trevinocircle.com/sippin/

Jim

[cnw1995]

Jim, go to Michaels or Hobby Lobby and browse the dried flowers - caspia would work, You can even make bigger trees by taping some together to form more of a trunk. It's great you're thinking of what look you'd like first - I have a group of 'firs' on the winter part of the layout that I made by snipping the ends off an old artificial Christmas tree - and the rest of the layout is mostly farm country - only a gathering of the bigger LifeLike trees as windbreaks. I've also planted a few 'sticks' as bare winter trees or dead ones.

[Jumijo]

Thanks, Doug. I did see caspia at Michael's, but over all, was incredibly disappointed with their dry flower selection. They seem to offer mostly plastic flowers around here. There is a store called Craft Mania locally that does stock a lot of dried flowers. I'll visit them.

I like your idea of using an old Christmas tree to cut into smaller ones. I've also noticed scale pines starting to come out for seasonal decoration. The closer we get to the holidays, the more they will be marked down. Maybe I'll grab some of those on 12/26!

Thanks for some great tips, Doug!

Please keep those ideas coming. A few great ones already.

Jim

[Big_Boy_4005]

Jim, there are lots of natural materials that can be used, but I don't know many by name. I like going out in the fall and looking for wild plants that have good branch structures. Be creative.

[cnw1995]

I have some lilacs in the backyard - I can see using the twigs as branches - maybe cutting them now - in the spring, they're too 'full'

Jim, I'm too poor to buy seasonal items before the holiday - I have to sniff around the dollar or discount stores for something I might use. Still wandering the aisles looking for a decent 'rubbermaid' lazy susan to turn into a turntable. What a great hobby!

[Jumijo]

Thanks, Elliot. The truth is, I don't know many by name either. I'll bet a good walk in the woods would yield some great materials, and get me a little much needed exercise as well. If it ever stops raining here, I'll certainly take your advice.

Doug, I hear you. Contrary to what my wife thinks, I'm not made out of money. I look for bargains wherever and whenever I can. I have to. I also subsidize this hobby by selling off items from other hobbies. I also sell articles to hobby magazines. If you want to learn how to build and detail a 1960's tv style Batboat, check out the current issue of Modeler's Resource. My article will show you how. All proceeds go right into the trains fund! [:)]

Sincere thanks,

Jim

Any one else care to leaf a tree making tip?

[Big_Boy_4005]

Jim, I don't really think you want to go into the "woods" per se, though you might find some things there too. The place to look is more in open unshaded spaces, places that grow wild and untended but with lots of sun. Places like rural roadsides that aren't mowed, and meadows usually have some great diversity.

When you find something you like, pick as much as you can. Hope you don't get hayfever, or have allergies.[swg]

[Jumijo]

As a matter of fact, I do have hayfever and allergies, Elliot. Golden rod and rag weed are supposed to be great for making trees from. Even though I'm allergic to them both, I might try any way. Besides, I'm more concerned with getting poison ivy, oak, sumac, than sneezing.

Thanks for clarifiying things for me. Greatly appreciated!

Jim

[dwiemer]

Jim,
Big Lots has some village pine trees and other usefull items for good prices. I believe the trees, depending on size are 2-3 trees for $0.99. They also have some small semi scale fences and wreaths.
Dennis

[Big_Boy_4005]

I'm not positive, but I think most of the noxious species that you mentioned, tend to be active during the summer months and are past their prime this time of year. The secret is to dress appropriately, long pants, socks, long sleeves, and gloves couldn't hurt. What you may find to be the bigger problem is burrs, brambles, and other such "sticky" things that like to poke you and cling to your clothes. A dust mask might help with the sneezing, and once you collect the stuff a sealer and preservative should keep you from sneezing on your trains.[;)]

[Jumijo]

3 trees for $0.99 is my kind of price range! I just happen to live right down the street from a Big Lots. I'll stop there on my way home tonight!

Thank you, Dennis.

Elliot, you snuck in while I was posting. More good words of wisdom! Thank you!

Jim

[Anonymous]

Here is for all. Part one of how to build a foam hill!!!



Here is a link to the full size pic...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v225/jerrylovestrains/hill.jpg

Part two coming soon

[Jumijo]

Excellent work, Jerry! Thanks for the first part of the tutorial. It will come in handy for me very soon!

Jim

[SPFan]

You can use Sedum flowers also. They are harvested in the fall. For pictures of what sedum trees look like check out http://www.rmrrc.com/photos.html

Pete

[FJ and G]

[FJ and G]

Go into fields NOW. This is best time of year.

Pick weeds (all types)

IMMEDIATELY spray them with adhesive or a glue/water mix.

They may be good to go or if not, they could be enhanced w/ground foam or sawdust of varying shades of green or yellow.

Sprinkle that on the glue mix and let dry.

These should last indefinitely. Just poke them in your styrofoam.

I have many other tips on trees.

[FJ and G]

stay away from Goldenrod. They are droopy and the flowers on them are not that good.

[Anonymous]

Here is part 2

[Jumijo]

Great tutorial, Jerry. I'll put it to use very soon and let you know how it turns out.

Jim

[overall]

David,

You must be modeling fall. You got some really good results. I wish mine looked that good.

George

[Jumijo]

I made some real progress this weekend modeling trees. I couldn't be happier with the birch trees I made.
They look great on the layout. This is the perfect time of year to study trees, forests, and their structure.

Thanks all for the great advice!

Jim

[FJ and G]

George,

The secret lies in getting the right looking weed and using a variety of colored sawdusts or groundfoams.

Most trees I see look too bushy and not open enough.

I'm in the process of moving all my toy trains outside and will be planting tiny trees that are real.

[Jumijo]

I came across some tiny ferns in WalMart yesterday that looked for all the world like 1/48 pine saplings. Never know where you're going to find something that will work.

Jim