I've always admired David's (Northbrit) modeling scenes he does over there across the pond. And also the splash of color he does with the plastic synthetic foliage he adds to his layout. I can always appreciate unique modeling techniques that are different from everyone else's.
So his modeling techniques got me thinking that I wanted to try something like he does and make my own pine trees.
I only have two types of pine trees scratch built that I am happy with and need to find a third.
I got some foliage at Michaels and took a bamboo skewer and drilled really small holes to glue the trimmings in.
Then painted the trunk and branches with raw umber.
This was at a critical point as the trees do not look good until they are spray-painted and flocked but I never got to that point because the stem was too brittle and broke because all the holes made it too weak. I actually wanted to drill more.
I think I'm going to pick this experiment back up with some round styrene because styrene solvent does work with the foliage glued to styrene. Styrene is not brittle and will not break in half like the wood did.
I'll have to see what happens maybe this weekend.
PH
TF Thank you for the nice compliment. What I do is just a quick and very cheap way of doing scenery. Not perfect, but I like it.
As for yourself, I like the idea of trying a new way. Okay it wasn't successful but maybe next time.
Another way. Pinching the idea from a modeler over here. Why not get the ends off a fir tree (if possible). Spray the pine needles with cheap hairspray. Emphasising cheap - cheaper the better. Drill a hole the size of the stem and glue in place. Real fir trees costing next to nothing (if they are nearby).
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Thanks David! It's always good to hear from my good old friend from across the pond!
Here is the sort of tree I'm aiming for all the way down on the end.
Whether I achieve that look or not is another thing but I will try
I always got a kick out of this picture because I did not realize until that day if you sneak up on a tree and he doesn't know you're looking or taking a picture, he will drop his limbs that he doesn't need anymore.
Zoom in and take a look for yourself. The tree was dropping his limbs because he didn't think anyone was looking
Maybe he just wanted a more distinctive refined shape?
It wasn't windy that day and it was the darndest thing I've ever seen in my life and my Judy seen it too!
TF
TF Looking at the tree you made. You say the stem broke. Would the bit left make a small tree? Bunch it into (successful) others. Not all trees are big. Failing that; a fallen tree is good and very rarely modeled.
The tree is over two weeks out with the trash David. It's okay as I always look at a failure as a learning experience. One can never refine their modeling skills without a little trial and error.
Thanks for the suggestions by the way. I had completely forgot about the hairspray trick my brother used a lot and worked very well with scenery modeling when we were kids
I'm going to look for the unscented version at the dollar store so my layout doesn't smell like a beauty parlor again
This time around no perfume smell but simulated aerosol diesel spray would be good Creosote fragrance under the wooden bridges
Now there's an idea for an entrepreneur if there is still a sizable enough market for it. With Woodland Scenic's, ...Railroad Fragrance
A little spray here, a little spray there. Now us old guys are not only happy seeing and hearing our trains, but now we can smell our Model Railroad
Never underestimate the six senses to make things a little more fun!
Track fiddlerI'm going to look for the unscented version at the dollar store so my layout doesn't smell like a beauty parlor again
I use unscented Finesse Superior Hold in the pump-type applicator. It gives better control than the spray-can version, and when it gets down to a level where it's no longer picking up the liquid, simply dump the remainder into a new pump container - no waste at all. I bought a couple dozen sprayers a few years ago, and they still work well, as does the product within.
Wayne