Moulting trees

[Anonymous]

I have recently made a bunch of HO trees from Woodlands Scenics plastic amatures and ground foam clump foliage. I followed the instructions on the pack and used the glue that was included (after letting it dry for the specified period).
The trees are not permanently planted on the layout yet but are sitting in temporary locations. The problem is, they keep dropping lumps of foliage off. This is spread over quite a long time, so it is not just an initial shedding of foliage. On closer inspection you can see the clumps slowly coming away from the armature with the glue sort of stretching until it lets go. I have tried fixing the foliage by spraying them with diluted white glue, but this is a disaster as is a spray of 'hair spray'. This makes it all fall off almost immediately.
Does anyone know what to use to fix this foliage permanently to the tree armature?

[cheese3]

maybe you could take some regular white glue un-diluted and try to glue them back in place...A little dab here and there and then move the foliage on top of the glue

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem when I first started. I came up with a couple ways to make it stick better. The first involves the hobby tack stuff they included with the kit. I put on a fair amount of the stuff, about 20 trees at a time and just let it sit overnight. The trick is to make sure the glue has turned from white to clear, it holds much better when clear. Place to clumps of foilage to each limb and apply pressure to to for a few seconds. Mine have stayed in place for over a year in some cases. If it starts looking like it will fall off, just apply pressure to the clumbs and limb.
Another way I've found to work is hot glue. put a small amount of hot glue on the clump and place it on the limb. Just make sure the temp is a medium heat so it wont melt the plastic.

[Big_Boy_4005]

I have always used solvent based contact cement when assembling Woodland Scenic trees. It may be a little stinky when you are doing it, but they don't fall apart later. You can easily shake off the excess foam immeadiately, and what remains is pretty permenant. Mine are just fine after 13 years.

You might want to try 3M 77 spray adhesive to repair your trees. Again solvent based. My experience is that water based glues just don't work well with plastic, and they don't dry very fast either.

You might just want to soak them in some water, and clean them completely off, reclaim the foam, and try again.

[dgwinup]

Macrocarpa,
I use Elmer's glue full strength, either white or yellow glue (I use yellow, mostly).
3M 77 spray adhesive is great, as long as you don't spray it ON the foliage. Would be better to use it AFTER cleaning the foam off and starting over.
I've been known to spend as much as 45 minutes working on ONE tree using yellow Elmer's. I like to think they are foreground trees. Mine have been up for 4 years and I've had very little drop-off, even on the ones that occasionally get knocked over.
Good luck.
Darrell, trying to be quiet.....for now

[bogp40]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

I have always used solvent based contact cement when assembling Woodland Scenic trees. It may be a little stinky when you are doing it, but they don't fall apart later. You can easily shake off the excess foam immeadiately, and what remains is pretty permenant. Mine are just fine after 13 years.

You might want to try 3M 77 spray adhesive to repair your trees. Again solvent based. My experience is that water based glues just don't work well with plastic, and they don't dry very fast either.

You might just want to soak them in some water, and clean them completely off, reclaim the foam, and try again.

I agree with the contact cement or 3M. If you can't spray the armature, just dab the contact cement on the spots to repair. A little cup of laquer thinner will help w/ keeping the brush/ applicator clean.
Bob K.

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for all these suggestions. I shall try them all and see how I go.

[2021]

Miracle of miracles - I have had the same problem and was ready to post an inquiry. I like the suggestions and will likewise try them. By the way, I have made repairs with straight white glue and it seems to work, but I like the idea of contact cement and or spray adhesive. The real problem arose when Hob-e-tac changed their formula and went to the white. Not sure if it was environmental or health (too many glue sniffers).
Ron K.

[Big_Boy_4005]

It's kind of funny how all of the best things in life are bad for you (fattening or dangerous). In this case solvent based adhesives.

After my last post to this topic, I had an interesting thought. You wouldn't consider putting a plastic model together with white glue, would you? And of course, that non-toxic stuff they sell at the hobby store is crap. There is no substitute for good old MEK.

I love white glue, but only for certain tasks.

When I do trees using contact cement, I keep it very simple. I just dip the branches in the open can. Nothing fancy, no brush. You don't really want the entire armature covered, just about 1/2 of the way down each branch.

Then I have an ice cream bucket filled with the foliage. Jab the glue covered armature into the foam a couple of times, then roll it through to get maximum coverage. Then spin the tree, to shake off the excess. This is where the high sides of the ice cream bucket come in handy.

The results are light and airy, which if you look at real trees, is exactly what you are trying to model.

[mrgstrain]

I have been useing Allienes Tacky Stuff . I first give the armature's a shot of dull coat to take away the shine. Put some Allienes on the armatures place clump folige or lichien pinch it on, spray with extra hold hair spray, sprinkel on some varying colors of fine turf spray again and you have a tree.
Larry

[Anonymous]

I used Contact Cement on my armatures, and then pressed the clumps of foliage onto the branches, piercing each clump at least once with a branch. Seems to hold just fine. But then again, maybe they're waiting for autumn to fall off...lol!

Trevor[:)]

[roadrat]

Woodland scenics seems to be a good size company ,if this product is failing you should let them know about it and seek some kind of redress with them.
at the very least maybe they will start including a better type of glue with the product in the future.


bill