Hey Jarell - yeah, it works great on the "leaf" materials. I used Scenic Express leaves and I have to really knock the tree around to get any sort of dead-fall.
E-L man tomI'm not at the tree building stage yet but I saw a quite well known modeler (even published in RMC and MR, I believe) use a spray adhesive made by Elmers. He did this in a scenery clinic and cranked out a dozen or so trees in about 30 minutes!
Beware the Elmer's brand spray adhesive. I tried it and found it basically never dries. Unlike Super 77, it stayed sticky for years which made trees built with it attract and hold dust. Maybe it's been re-formulated since.
Rob Spangler
WARNING!!!!
For anyone going the hairspray route, I have done extensive reseach in the the isle at Walmart that garnered some questionable looks from the well dressed Walmart crowd. You would think the more expensive the hairspray the more sticky it would be. Alas! I discovered (through my extensive research with the well dressed Walmart crowd watching) the cheaper the hairspray the more sticky it is. So in this case cheapest is best!
WARNING! Do not use this cheap stuff on your hair or leave it where a female member of the family may find it and use it. This product was made for making trees only and really should be sold in the crafts and hobbies section of Walmart.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
hobo9941 Those are all good answers, but how do they hold up for the long term?
Those are all good answers, but how do they hold up for the long term?
I have 14 year old supertrees using matt medium that have held up quite well. Not a fan of WS tree kits either.
As for Scotch 77, I have used it for art projects and won't go near the stuff in this hobby. I'm sure it is effective, just don't like the smell. I also use acrylic paints fot the same reason.
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
I'm not at the tree building stage yet but I saw a quite well known modeler (even published in RMC and MR, I believe) use a spray adhesive made by Elmers. He did this in a scenery clinic and cranked out a dozen or so trees in about 30 minutes!
I'm also going to give the 3M and hairspray method a try. While I am happy with the MM method, the 3M method does look appealing.
I'm going to have to try the 3M spray and hair spray method on a couple of test subjects. I knew there had to be a better way. For those that use this method does it work pretty good on the tiny 'leaves' that Noch, Scenic express and Woodland Scenics makes?
Jarrell
hobo9941Those are all good answers, but how do they hold up for the long term?
I have trees made using hairspray or Super 77 that have held up for literally decades. My Supertrees haven't been around that long, but none have had problems in the few years I've been using Supertrees.
I made a bunch of trees a couple years ago, using HobiTack and Woodland Scenics ground foam, and the vinyl tree armitures. I followed the directions and they looked good. But now after a couple years, large chunks of the foliage are falling off the trees.
I'm not a fan of the WS tree kits. Lack of success with those doesn't necessarily translate into trouble with other proven methods.
Those are all good answers, but how do they hold up for the long term? I made a bunch of trees a couple years ago, using HobiTack and Woodland Scenics ground foam, and the vinyl tree armitures. I followed the directions and they looked good. But now after a couple years, large chunks of the foliage are falling off the trees. So far the trees look OK and the fallen foliage just looks like bushes under the trees. But the trees are going to look kind of bare, if the foliage continues to fall off. Not sure what to do now.
I started using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive for applying the foliage, then sealing it with a good dose of cheap hairspray. Spray the glue, sprinkle the foliage, hairspray & plant. No need for the soak or drip dry.
edit: dang, Rob, I was typing that at the same time
I don't care for using matte medium on Supertrees. I've used both 3M Super 77 spray adhesive and plain old extra hold hair spray. Both seem to hold better than matte medium.
All of these were built using hairspray.
Cheap hair spray!!!!!!!! The matt just dose not hold long term as it dose not encapsolate it well enough like when you use it for other scenery proubly because of the flow.
I generally use Green Spray Paint from wally-mart - cheapest stuff I can find.
I use it for the Puff Ball trees too - in having made over 3000 puff balls any other method would have bankrupted me! Although with another 2000 puffball trees left to go - it just might ! ;-)
Never like the Matte Medium method but might try it again when I get into the Super Trees next year!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
I'm thinking now, after reading ya'll's replies that 6 to 1, the mix I've been using, is too weak so I'm going to do the next batch at 4 to 1. I'll give it an extra spray if needed and IF I can find a spray bottle that won't clog up after a spray or two.
Thanks,
Jarrll
trainnut1250 Jarrell, I've made 100's of supertrees love the detail....Matt medium 4:1 soak the armatures for a few minutes. Spray a couple of times as they dry with same solution. I hang my trees upside down, clothesline style and let them dry for at least 24 houts to set. Guy
Jarrell,
I've made 100's of supertrees love the detail....Matt medium 4:1 soak the armatures for a few minutes. Spray a couple of times as they dry with same solution. I hang my trees upside down, clothesline style and let them dry for at least 24 houts to set.
Ditto here as well. If I find I need to add a little foliage to a tree or two after they have dried I simply spray a jolt of the mat medium and sprinkle a bit of the foliage to the area that needs attention. Seems to do the trick.
Happy modeling!
Don.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
On my supertrees I use matte medium at a 4-1 ratio. Seens to work for me. I soak for a few minutes and mist on some mm mixture after the foliage is sprinkled on. Have used hairspray on puff ball trees and it worked ok.
I use hairspray. Works pretty good for me. I'm making trees out of roadside weeds. Matte medium won't have much stick until it dries some, like minutes.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
When making super trees, homemade trees etc. I've had problems getting the 'foilage' to stick to the branches in a reliable manner. I usually use matte medium diluted with water about 1:6 and soak the tree for a minute or so in this solution.
What do you prefer as the adhesive and at what ratio do you mix it? Do you use hair spray or some other method in addition? If you use matte medium or glue how long do you soak the tree before applying the 'leaves'?